fam,    \ 


Duke  University  Libraries 

...Report  of  th 
Conf  Pam  #324 

DTTDDSieiR 


I 


IIOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  November  7,  1861  —Refer- 
red to  Commiiteo  on  Naval  Affairs.  December  5,  18G4. — Reported 
buck  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 


:eiiiiip  OTirp 


or  Tur. 


SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAYY. 


Confederate  States  of  America,  ) 

Navy  .Department,  \ 

Richmond,  November  5/ 1864,  ) 

The  President: 

Srn  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  to  you  the  operations  of  this  De- 
partment since  the  date  cf  my  last  report,  April  3()th,  I864i_. 

In  November,  1863.  the  eteara-sloop  Rappahannock,  pierced  for 
four  guns,  vras  purchased  by  the  agents  of  this  Department  in  Gre%t 
Britain.  She  left  Sherness  on  the  25th  of  November,  -without  arma- 
ment or  enuipments  for  vrar  purpose?,  and  was  cojnpcllcd  to  s?ek  the 
French  port  of  Calais  to  repair  and  adjust  her  engines,  and  to  complete 
indisponsablo  preparations  for  a  voyage  to  the  Confederate  States. 
The  officer  in  command  reported  the  arrival  of  his  ship,  her  condition 
aad  crew,  ahd  asked  perroission  to  repair.  This  being  promptly  granted 
by  the  French  authorities,  the  necessary  -work  was  performed  and  the 
ship  v.-as  prepared  for  sea,  without  her  armament,  with  all  practicablo' 
dbpatch,  when,  by  r.n  extraordinary  and  unXricudly  order  from  the 
French  Governmeut,  fiho  was  prevented  from  proceeding  to  sea  with 
in-'ro  than  thirty-fivo  officers  and  men,  although  her  commander,  on 
'•ill,  had  officially  reported  his  ship's  company  at  one  hundred 
I'hirty-five  men  were  deemed  iiis'ufficieat  for  the  management 
of  the  vessel,  and  she  is  consequently  detained  ia  the  port  of  Ca- 
lais. 

After  an  active   and  protracted  cruise  of  the  "  Georgia,"  in  th^ 
South  Atlantic  ocean,  being  found  deficient  in  the  essential  qualities 


f 


2 

of  a  self-sustaining  cruiser,  she  was  sold  and  delivered  to  British  mer- 
chants at  Liverpool,  in  July  last. 

The  annexed  report  of  Captain  Rapheal  Serames  gives  the  details 
of  the  combat  between  the  "Alabama"  and  the  "  Kearsage,"  off 
Cherbourg,  on  the  1 9th  of  June  last,  resulting  in  the  destruction  of 
the  "  Alabama,"  wiih  nine  killed  and  twenty-wne  wounded.  Captain 
Serames  says:  "  The  enemy  was  heavier  than  mj'self  in  ship,  battery 
and  crew,  and  I  did  not  know,  until  the  action  was  over,  that  tho 
"  Kearsage"  v>as  iron-clad."  In  this  unequal  combat  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  *'  Alabama"  stood  by  their  ship  until  she  went  down,  and 
their  gallantry  and  good  conduct  met  the  confident  expectations  of 
their  countrymen.  The  English  yacht  Deerhound,  owned  and  com- 
manded by  John  Lancaster,  Esq.,  an  English  gentleman,  who  went  out 
from  Cherbourg  to  witness  the  combat,  picked  up  some  forty  of  our 
ofiBcers  and  men,  including  Captain  Semmes,  and  landed  them  in 
England.  Others  were  saved  by  French  fishing-boats,  and  but  ^^few 
were  picked  up  by  the  enemy. 

I  record  and  invite  your  attention,  with  pleasure,  to  the  conduct  of 
Mr.  Lancaster  upon  this  occasion.  Our  brave  men  chose  rather  to 
sink  with  their  ship  than  to  surrender;  and  he  not  only  rescued  them 
■from  death  under  the  guns  of  the  enemy,  but,  until  he  landed 
them  upon  neutral  soil,  treated  them  with  equal  generosity  and  kind- 
ness. 

In  May  last.  Lieutenant  Commanding  Thomas  P.  Pclot,  under  Flag- 
officer  Hunter's  command  at  Savannah,  organized  a  boat  party  against 
the  enemy  in  Ossabaw  Sound,  and,  on  the  night  of  the  3d  of  June,  at- 
tacked, and,  after  a  desperate  contest,  carried,  by  boarding,  the  United 
Ptates  sloop  *'  Water- V/itch,"  Lieutenant  Commander  A.  Pendergrast 
United  States  Navy,  of  four  guns  and  a  crew  of  eighty  officers  and 
men,  with  a  loss  to  the  enemy  of  tv/o  killed  and  fourteen  wounded. 
The  enemy  was  not  surprised,  and  had  his  crew  at  quarters  and  his 
boarding  nettings  up  ;  and  our  loss  was  six  killed  and  seventeen 
■wounded. 

In  this  gallant  achievement  the  navy  lost  one  of  its  most  accom- 
plished officers  in  Lieutenant  Pelot,  who  was  killed  at  the  head  of  his 
boarding  party,  after  gaining  the  enemy's  deck. 

A  copy  of  the  report  of  Lieutenant  Joseph  Price,  who  succeeded 
to  the  command,  is  annexed,  and  whose  promotion  to  the  grade  of 
commander,  for  gallant  conduct  in  this  expedition,  is  recommended. 

On  the  7th  of  May  last,  Flag-officer  William  F.  Lynch,  in  com- 
mand of  tho  iron-clad  *'  Raleigh,"  crossed  the  Wilmington  bar,  and 
attacked  tho  enemy's  fleet,  driving  his  vessels  to  sea.  la  returning 
;^o  port,  his  ship  got  ashore  and  was  fatally  injured,  her  guns,  equip- 
ments, iron,  (fee,  being  saved.  A  court  of  inquiry  was  ordered  upon 
the  disaster,  whose  report  is  annexed. 

On  the  5th  day  of  August  last,  a  formidable  fleet  of  the  enemy, 
consisting  of  eighteen  ships,  including  four  iron-clads,  mounting  one 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  guns  and  manned  by  twenty-seven  hundred 
men,  under  Admiral  Farragut,  crossed  the  Mobile  bar,  when  they 
were  vigorously  attacked  by  the  forts   and  by  our  small  aquadroa, 


under  Admiral  Buchanan.  This  force  consisted  of  tlie  steam-sloops 
"  Morgan  "  and  "  Gaines,"  each  carrying  six  guns,  the  "  Selma"  four 
guns,  and  the  iron-clad  ram  '*  Tennessee,"  six  guns — in  all  twenty-two 
guns  and  four  hundred  and  seventy  men. 

lu  this  action,  the  "  Tennessee"  and  ''  Selma  "  were  captured,  and 
the  ''  Gaines,"  in  a  sinking  condition,  Avas  run  ashore  and  abandoned, 
the  officers  and  men  escaping  to  Mobile,  wliere  the  **  Morgan  "  also 
arrived  in  safety.  Our  loss  was  twelve  killed,  twentj  wounded  and 
two  hundred  and  forty-three  prisoners.  The  injury  to  the  enemy's 
ships  is  not  ascertained,  though  we  know  that  the  iron-clad  "  Tccum- 
seh,"  probably  struck  by  a  torpedo,  went  down  with  one  hundred  men, 
and  that  several  of  his  vessels  were  crippled  ami  seriously  damaged. 
In  addition  to  the  crew  of  the  "  Tecumseh,"  the  enemy's  loss  in  killed 
and  woiTtided  was  about  three  hundred. 

Naval  history  records  few  contests  between  forces  so  unequal  in 
ships,  guns  and  men,  and  but  few  in  which  the  weaker  party  displayed 
equal  heroism.  Apart  from  graver  considerations,  this  contest 
possesses  peculiar  interest  for  all  who  are  watchful  of  the  progress  of 
naval  affairs,  it  being  the  first  in  which  the  modern  and  improved 
means  of  naval  warfare,  offensive  and  defensive,  have  been  tested. 

The  enemy's  ships,  among  the  finest  afloat,  were  armed  with  nine,  ten, 
eleven  and  twenty-inch  guns,  whoso  projectiles  varied  iu  weight  from 
eighty-four  to  four  hundred  and  twenty  eight  pounds.  Their  broad- 
sides, the  heaviest  known,  were  discharged  upon  the  "  Tennessee,"  at 
distances  ranging  from  three  to  thirty  yards,  and  three  of  their  heaviest 
shipvS,  fitted  as  rams,  rr>n  into  her  repeatedly  at  full  speed.  The  mas- 
sive strength  of  the  frame  and  the  sloping  armor  of  the  ship  resisted 
these  assaults,  and  but  one  shot  reached  or  made  any  impression  upon 
the  wood-work  of  the  shield,  and  this  did  not  go  through  it 

On  the  6th  of  August,  the  day  after  the  battle,  Admiral  Farragut 
ordered  a  board  of  four  naval  officers  to  examine  and  report  the 
condition  of  the  Tennessee ;  and  the  official  report  of  this  board, 
mide  on  the  13th  of  August,  after  detailing  the  specific  injuries  sus- 
tained by  the  ship,  says,  ''  the  '  Tennessee '  is  in  a  state  to  do  good 
service  now." 

The  resistance  offered  by  inclined  iron  armor  to  the  heavest  ord- 
nance ever  used  upon  the  sea,  was  hero  fully  tested  at  short  ranges., 
and  the  result,  so  far  as  known,  shows  the  superiority  of  this  arrange- 
ment over  similar  armor  upon  vertical  planes. 

Our  naval  officers,  constructors  and  engineers,  will  not  fail  to  avail' 
themselves  of,  and  to  profit  by,  the  instruction  afforded  by  this 
engagement.  Admiral  Buchanan's  report  of  which  is  annexed. 

The  steam-sloop  *'  Tallahassee,"  throe  guns  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  officers  and  men,  under  Commander  John  Taylor  Wood,  left 
AVilmington,  on  the  6th  of  August  last,  on  a  cruise,  and  returned  to 
that  port  on  the  26th  of  August.  She  captured  thirty-one  of  the 
enemy's  ships,  of  which  she  destroyed  twenty-six  and  bonded  five. 

The  immediate  losses  inflicted  upon  the  enemy  by  these  captures 
yrcre  greatly  enhanced  by  the  delay  and  detention  of  his  commercial 


ships  in  port  from  a  feeling  of  insecurity,  and  by  the  augmentation 
of  the  rates  of  marine  insurance. 

During  the  cvuise,  the  "Tallahassee"  visited  Halifax  to  obtain 
coal,  but  Avas  compelled  to  leave  that  port  by  the  extraordinary  and 
unfriendly  course  of  the  British  authorities,  without  an  adequate 
supply.  The  cruise  was  active  and  successful,  and  reflects  great 
<;rcdit  on  Commander  Wood,  bis  officers  and  men.  Commander 
Wood's  report  is  annexed. 

The  steami-sloop  "  Florida,"  Lieutenant  Commanding  C.  M.  Morris, 
is  on  an  active  crujso,  and  -was  last  heard  from  at  Teneriffe. 

The  release  of  Lieutenant  Charles  W.  Read  from  a  United  States 
prison,  has  enabled  him  to  make  a  report  of  his  brilliant  cruise  in  the 
''  Clarence,"  "  Taconcy,"  and  "  Archer,"  during  the  summer  of 
1863. 

Mr.  Read  was  one  of  "  Florida's"  lieutenants,  and  in  May,  18G3, 
at  sea,  he  took  command  of  the  prize-hrig  *'  Clarence,"  with  twenty 
of  the  '•  Florida's  "  men,  and  subsequently,  changing  his  flag  to  the 
barque  "  Taconoy,"  and  then  to  the  schooner  "  Archer,"  he  cap- 
tured three  ships,  three  barques,  three  brigs  and  fourteen  schooners, 
while  a  large  number  cf  the   enemy's  ships  were  in   pursuit  of  him. 

In  the  '*  Archer,"  he  then  entered  the  harbor  of  Portland,  Maine, 
during  daylight  of  the  26th  of  June,  and  at  thirty  minutes  past  one 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  he  boarded  and  captured,  without  loss  or  casualty,  the 
United  States  revenue-cutter  "  Caleb  Cushing,"  and  took  her  to  sea. 
On  the  following  day  he  was  pursued  by  two  armed  steamers,  and, 
finding  capture  inevitable,  he  set  fire  to  the  vessel  and  took  to  his 
boats  and  surrendered. 

The  cruise  was  very  creditable  to  Lieutenant  Read,  his  oflicers  and 
men,  and  his  report  is  annexed. 

The  report  of  Commander  William  A.  Webb,  of  the  loss  of  the 
"  Atlanta,"  is  hereto  annexed,  he  having  been  lately  released  from 
imprisonment.  A  court  of  inquiry  will  be  ordered  on  the  loss  of 
this  ship  so  soon  as  the  exigencies  of  the  service  will  permit. 

The  iron-clad  sloop  "North  Carolina,"  while  under  the  command 
of  Flag-officer  William  F.  Lynch,  became  unserviceable  from  the 
destructive  operations  of  the  sea  worm,  and  has  been  dismantled  and 
an  investigation  of  the  case  will  be  made. 

The  steam-sloops  '•  Chickamauga"  and '' Tallahassee,"  each  with 
three  guns  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenants  Commanding  John  Wilkinson  and  William  H,  Ward,  left 
V^Tlmington,  on  the  2Sth  and  29th  of  October,  on  a  cruise. 

The  James  river  squadron,  under  Flag-officer  John  K.  Mitchell,  has 
been  actively  employed  in  co-operation  with  the  army ;  and,  on  the 
29th  of  September,  it  had  a  spirited  contest  with  some  of  the  enemy's 
shore  batteries  on  the  James  river,  silencing  those  upon  Signal  hill. 

When  Admiral  Lee,  the  Federal  officer  in  command  of  the  United 
States  naval  forces  in  the  Virginia  waters,  discovered  that  our  three 
iron-clads  were  preparing  to  attack  him  in  June  last,  though  the  force 
under  his  command  was  vastly  superior  to  ours,  he  effectually 
obstructed  the  river  in  Trent's  reach  with   sunken  vessels  and  other 


means,  which  ohstructions  ha  still  maivitains,  and  established  shove 
batteries  to  protect  them;  and  behind  those  obstractions  his  iron- 
clads have  continued  securely  to  shelter  themselves. 

Lieutenant  ('olonel  Terrett,  of  the  marine  corps,  with  a  body  of 
marines,  commands  Drewry's  Bluif ;  and  at  Mobile,  Wilmington  and 
the  James  river,  parties  of  uaval  officers  and  men,  commiud  shore 
batteries. 

The  submarine  battery  and  torpedo  force  organized  by  the  depart- 
ment, under  the  command  of  Commander  Hunter  Davidson,  has 
proved  efficient,  and  an  increase  of  appropriation  for  this  service  is 
recommended.  The  importance  of  this  weapon  of  defensive  war  is 
becoming  daily  more  evident  as  experience  develops  means  of  sur- 
mounting difficulties  heretofore  regaricd  as  insuperable. 

The  enemy's  assent  of  James  river  by  a  large  number  of  war  ves- 
sels, expressly  prepared  for  the  enterprise,  in  May  last,  was  mate- 
rially retarded  by,  and  their  final  arrest  was  greatly  due  to,  this  force. 
They  were  compelled  to  scour  the  banks  of  the  river  with  land  parties,, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  to  drag  the  river  for  torpedoes,  by  which  their 
progress  was  reduced  to  half  a  mile  in  twenty -four  hours,  and  while 
thus  engaged,  on  the  Cth  of  May  last,  their  leading  steam  gun-boat,  the 
"  Commodore  Jones,"  was  blown  into  fragments  by  a  submarine  bat- 
ter}', and  their  further  progress,  for  the  time,  checked.  Lieutenant  J. 
Pembroke  Jones  has  succeeded  Commander  Davidson,  and  he  embraces 
"Wilmington  and  the  James  river  wi:hin   the  sphere  of  hi=t  operations. 

Special  attention  is  called  to  the  necessity  of  providing  for  the 
education  and  training  of  officers  for  the  navy,  and  to  the  measures 
adopted  by  the  department  upon  the  subject. 

Naval  education  and  training  lie  at  the  foundation  of  naval  suc- 
cess ;  and  the  power  that  neglects  this  Cr^sential  element  of  strength 
will,  when  the  battle  is  fought,  find  that  its  ships:  however  formida- 
ble, are  but  built  for  a  more  thoroughly  trained  and  educated  enemy. 
From  1793  to  1815,  the  French  built  and  equipped  fleets  but  to  be 
transferred  to  the  accomplished  seamen  of  Britain,  and  in  the  mem- 
orable single  combats,  and  squadron  and  fleet  fighting  of  that  eventful 
period  of  naval  histor^,  in  which  the  strength,  models  and  ordnance 
of  French  ships  and  the  courage  of  their  persohel  were  in  no  respect 
inferior  to  those  of  the  enemy,  the  superior  seamanship  of  the  British 
navy  secured  an  almost  unbroken  succession  of  naval  victories. 

While  a  liberal  education  at  the  ordinary  institutions  of  learning 
prepares  men  for  useful  service,  not  only  iu  the  army,  but  in  most 
branches  of  public  aifiirs,  special  education  and  training,  and  such  as 
these  institutions  cannot  afford,  are  essential  to  form  a  naval  officer. 

In  recognition  of  tha  necessity  of  this  special  training  every  naval 
power  of  the  earth  has  established  naval  colleges  and  schools  and 
practice  ships;  and  the  radical  and  recent  changes  in  the  chief  ele- 
ments of  naval  warfare,  have  directed  to  these  establishments  marked 
aPttention. 

So  far  as  the  limited  resources  at  the  command  of  this  department 
are  available  for  the  education  and  training  of  midshipmen,  they  have 
been  organized  ;  and  under  the   efficient  direction   of  Lieutenant  W. 


II.  Parker,  the  beneficial  results  of  the  school-ship  "Patrick  Henry'* 
are  being  felt  in  the  service.  Many  acting  raidphipmen,  who  had  but 
entered  the  United  States  Naval  Academy  of  Annapolis,  when  the 
war  began,  have  here  completed  their  course  of  naval  studies,  and, 
in  addition  to  these,  twenty-nine  youths,  appointed  originally  to  this 
school  and  representing  neaily  every  portion  of  the  Confederacy  have 
graduated  as  passed  ruidshipraen  or  masters,  and  they  will  compare 
favorably  with  those  of  like  grades  in  any  naval  service. 

The  number  of  acting  midshipmen  is  limited,  by  existing  laws,  to 
one  hundred  and  six,  who  are  being  appointed  from  the  several  Con- 
gressional districts  of  the  Confederate  States  as  equally  as  practica- 
ble ;  and  as  the  school-ship  affords  accommodations  but  for  one  half  of 
this  number,  their  scholisstic  course  is  divided  between  the  vessels  in 
service  and  the  school-ship. 

This  is  disadvantageous  to  the  officer  who  thus  loses,  or  fails  to 
acquire,  the  habit  of  methodical  and  continuous  study,  and  who,  being 
uninformed  upon  the  theory  of  his  profession,  is  unprepared  to  prop- 
erly profit  by  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  him  of  participating  ia 
its  practical  duties. 

A  small  expenditure  will  enable  us  to  place  the  whole  number  of 
midshipmen  authorized  by  law  under  instruction  at  the  school,  and  I 
recommend  thst  provision  be  made  accordingly.  The  erection  of  a 
few  cabins  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  in  addition  to  those  liow  in  use  there, 
will  be  sufficient  to  meet  this  object. 

The  number  of  midshipmen  authorized  by  law  is  insufficient  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  service,  present  or  prospective  An  increase  of  the 
liavy  must  necessarily  follow  the  attainment  of  peace  and  indepen- 
dence, and  the  youths  whom  we  are  now  educating  are  those  to  whom 
Ave  are  to  look  to  sustain  the  flag  of  the  country  in  foreign  seas.  No 
accurate  estimate  of  the  proportion  of  graduates  to  the  whole  number 
appointed — one  hundred  and  six — can  as  yet  be  made,  but  we  may 
safely  assume  that  it  cannot  exceed  one-half  and  it  is  evident  that  fifty- 
three  graduates,  distributed  through  four  years,  are  insufficient  to 
meet  the  demands  of  the  service  Additional  quarters  will  enable  us 
to  provide  for  the  tuition  of  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  I  deem  it 
proper,  therefore,  to  recommend  that  the  number  of  midshipmen  be 
increased  to  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

The  system  of  instruction  conforms,  as  far  as  practicable,  to  that 
adopted  in  the  most  approved  naval  schools;  and  it  forms  a  nucleus 
for  an  establishment  v/hich  the  necessities  of  the  naval  service  and 
the  interests  of  the  country,  will,  at  an  early  day,  render  indispensa- 
ile  ;  and  a  well  considered  plan  and  organizitioa  for  which  I  am  pre- 
pared to  submit  whenever  the  condition  of  the  country  may  seem  to 
call  for  legislation  upon  the  subject. 

I  have  the  honor  to  recommend  that  authority  be  given  for  the 
•<;mployment  of  six  teachers  for  the  war,  with  tho  rank  and  pay  of  firs]^ 
lieutenants  in  the  navy.  The  branches  for  which  they  arc  required 
are  mathematics,  modern  languages,  ethics,  and  English  studies, 
drawing  and  drafting,  sword  and  bayonet  exercise — seamanship,  gun- 
nery and  other  branches  being  taught  by  naval  officers.     Under  exist- 


ing  regulations,  those  employed  to  teach  the  foregoing  branches  can 
only  receive  the  compensation  of  masters — one  thousand  dollars  per 
annum  and  a  rat'on — a  compensation  inadequate  to  their  support. 

Provisional  NAVi'. 

Under  the  act  entitled  "An  act  to  create  a  Provisional  Navy  of  the 
Confederate  States,"  the  provisional  navy  has  been  organized  and  its 
formation  is  shown  in  the  official  naval  register. 

Marine  Corps. 

The  condition  of  the  marine  corps  is  set  forth  in  Colonel  Beall's 
report  annexed. 

Its  afrtrrefiate  streniith  is  shown  to  be  five  hundred  and  thirty-nine. 
Since  my  last  report  the  marines  have  disphiyed  their  accustomed  (us- 
cipline  and  gaHantry  under  fire  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  and  also  in  th'3 
naval  and  land  engagements  of  the  5th  and  6th  of  August  last  in  the 
Bay  of  Mobile. 

The  organization  of  the  corps  is  that  of  a  regiment  of  infantry,  to 
which,  in  pay  and  allowances,  it  should  be  assimilated  ;  and,  as  the 
monthly  pay  of  its  non-commissioned  officers,  musicians,  and  privates 
in  now  three  dollars  less  than  that  h^  the  same  grades  in  the  infantry, 
an  increase  to  this  extent  is  recommended. 

The  mechanics  and  other  operatives  under  this  department  at  Fbich- 
mond  are  organized,  armed  and  equipped  as  a  military  force  ;  and 
the  repeated  demonstrations  of  the  enemy  upon  the  city,  calling  them 
to  the  field,  have,  in  all  cases,  seriously  retarded,  and  in  some  in- 
stances entirely  suspended,  the  progress  of  important  works  under  its 
direction.  Many  of  the  most  skillful  of  these  artisan'^  are  Europeans, 
who,  feeling  but  little  interest  in  our  .struggle,  are  unwilling  to  encounter 
the  perils  or  privations  of  war,  and  desertions  among  them  are  fre- 
quent. The  enemy,  it  is  understood,  holds  out  tcm;)ting  iuduceraents 
to  this  class  of  our  citizens  to  leave  us,  and  the  limited  number  ot 
experienced  artisans  in  the  Confederacy  is  daily  decreasing.  It  vrill 
be  found  very  diffiv?ult  to  supply  the  places  of  these  m'^chanics  ;  but  as 
the  demand  for  skilled  labor  is  urgently  felt  throughout  the  Confed- 
eracy, in  public  and  private  establishments,  the  subject  de.uands 
consideration. 

Under  the  existing  enrolment  and  conscription  laws,  mechanics, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  exempts  from  military  service,  can  only 
be  obtained  for  naval  works  by  details  from  the  array  or  the  con- 
Fcript  camps.  When  thus  detailed,  they  are  still  regarded  as  in  the 
array,  and  their  monthly  pay  and  emoluments  are  received  from 
officers  of  the  army,  while  their  compensation  as  mechanics  is  paid  by 
those  of  the  navy.  Much  inconvenience  and  detriment  to  the  public 
service  results  from  this  practice.  A  perpetual  struggle  exists  be- 
tween the  military  officers  from  whose  commands  these  mechanics  are 
detailed  and  the  naval  officers  under  whom  they  are  employed,  for 
their  possession.  The  Navy  Department  receives  almost  daily  notices 
of  the  revocation  of  the  details  of  its  workmen,  or  of  calls  for  their 


return  to  their  coramands,  while  the  mechanic  himself,  uncertain  as 
to  ^v'hat  moment  he  may  be  returned  to  a  marching  regiment,  is  dis- 
contented, and  neglects  means  and  opportunities  lor  improving  his 
condition,  bj  which  he  might  be  better  able  to  serve  the  country. 

To  correct  what  I  rvgard  as  an  evil,  I  have  the  honor  to  recommend 
that  proviiiion  be  made  for  the  enlistment  in  the  navy  of  the  skilled 
mechanics  who  are  permanently  required  in  our  workshops,  and  for 
the  transfer,  instead  of  the  detail,  of  such  mechanics  from  the  army. 
While  this  would  lead  to  the  improvement  of  the  condition  of  the 
individual  artisan,  it  would,  at  the  same  time,  by  placing  a  body  of 
men  permanently  under  the  distinct  organization  and  discipline  of 
thq  navy,  and  familiarizing  them  with  their  officers,  render  them  more 
efScient  in  the  field  when  called  upon  as  a  military  organization. 
Should  this  recommendation  be  approved,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
remove  the  limitation  upon  the  number  of  enlisted  men  for  the  navy. 

Construction  of  Vessels. 

The  report  of  Chief  Constructor  John  L.  Porter,  hereto  annexed, 
and  to  which  attention  is  invited,  furnishes  detailed  information  as  to 
vessels  in  course  of  construction. 

•  Orders  and  Detail. 

The  number  of  enlisted  men  in  the  navy,  as  shown  by  the  report  of 
Captain  S.  S.  Lee,  Chief  of  Bureau  of  Orders  and  Detail,  is  three 
thousand  six  huu'Ired  and  seventy-four — a  number  insufficient  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  service. 

The  existing  laws  of  enrollment  and  conscription  contemplated  the 
recruitment  of  men  for  the  navy  from  the  army  ;  but,  under  the  pres- 
sure of  the  urgent  demand  for  soldiers  ia  the  field,  transfers  to  the 
navy  have  not  been  made  to  the  extent  called  for. 

Among  the  naval  works  under  the  direction  of  the  Bureau  of  Orders 
and  Detail  is  the  rope  walk,  from  the  operations  of  which,  as  .set  forth 
in  his  report,  it  will  be  seen  that,  from  the  1st  of  April,  1863,  to  the 
3Uth  of  September,  1864,  it  has  paid  its  own  expenses,  supplied  the 
navy,  free  of  charge,  with  eighty-four  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty- 
nine  pounds  of  rope,  and  has  a  net  balance  of  five  thousand  six  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  on  hand.  An  appropriation  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars  was  originally  asked  to  enable  the  Department  to  establish  this 
work,  which  appropriation  Congress  omitted  to  grant. 

It  is  now,  for  obvious  reasons,  deemed  expedient  to  remove  the 
machinery  from  Petersburg  and  establish  the  rope-waik  at  a  more 
central  position,  and  an  appropriation  for  this  purpose  is  recomr 
mended. 

Ordnance. 

Under  the, orders  of  the  Department,  the  energy  and  industry  of 
those  in  charge  of  tho  naval  ordnance  works  at  Atlanta,  Georgia, 


saved  the  largest  and  most  valuable  portion  of  their  machinery  and 
tools,  upon  the  evacuation  of  that  city,  and  removed  them  to  Augusta, 
Georgia,  where  they  are  now  in  operation. 

The  annexed  report  of  Commander  John  M.  Brooke,  Chief  of  the 
Bureau  of  Ordnance  and  Hydrography,  gives,  in  detail,  the  progress 
and  condition  of  the  various  naval  works,  under  his  direction,  at  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  Augusta,  Georgia,  Colum- 
bia, South  Carolina,  and  Selma,  Alabama. 

The  force  of  mechanics  at  Selma  has  never  been,  and  is  not  now, 
sufficient  to  develop  the  full  usefulness  of  the  establishment,  and  oper- 
ations in  some  of  its  branches  are  not,  in  consequence,  conducted. 
Notwithstanding  this  serious  drawback,  however,  in  addition  to 
ordnance  of  n  lighter  character,  this  establishment  has  turned  out,  for 
the  defence  of  Mobile,  forty-seven  heavy  guns  specially  adapted  for 
service  against  iron-clads.  With  the  exception  of  two  lost  with  Fort 
Morgan,  and  eight  in  the  Tennessee  and  Selma,  all  these  guns  are 
now  in  position  ashore  and  afloat.  Besides  these,  the  Selma  works 
have  supplied  twelve  guns  for  the  defences  of  other  points,  including 
Charleston  and  Wilmington. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant. 

^      S.  11.  MALLORY, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


Southampton,  June  21,  1864. 

Hon.  S.  R.  Mallory, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Richmond,  Va.  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you,  in  accordance  with  my  inten- 
tion as  previously  announced  to  you,  1  steamed  out  of  the  harbor  of 
Cherbourg,  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  June 
19th,  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  the  enemy's  steamer  Kearsage, 
which  had  been  lying  off  and  on  the  port  for  several  days  previously. 
After  clearing  the  harbor  wo  descried  the  enemy  with  his  head  off 
shore,  at  a  distance  of  about  nine  miles.  We  were  three-quarters  of 
an  hour  in  coming  up  with  him.  I  had  previously  pivoted  my  guns  to 
starboard,  and  made  all  my  preparations  for  engaging  the  enemy  on 
that  side.  When  within  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  of  the  enemy,  ho 
suddenly  wheeled,  and,  bringing  his  head  in  shore,  presented  his  star- 
board battery  to  me.  By  this  time  we  were  distant  about  one  mile 
from  each  other,  when  I  opened  on  him  with  solid  shot,  to  which  he 
replied  in  a  few  minutes,  and  the  engagement  became  active  on  both 
sides.  The  enemy  now  pressed  liis  ship  under  a  full  head  of  steam, 
and,  to  prevent  our  passing  each  o'.her  too  speedily,  and  to  keep  our 
respective  broadgides  bearing,  it  became  necessary  to  fight  in  a  circle; 
the  two  ships  steaming  around  a  common  centre,  and  preserving  a 
distance  from  each  other  of  from  a  quarter  to  half  a  mile.  When  we 
got  within  good  shell  range  wc  opeued  upon   him  with  shell.     Some 


If) 

ten  or  fifteen  minutes  after  tlie  commencement  of  the  action  our  span- 
ker gatf  was  shot  away  and  our  ensign  came  down  by  the  run.  This 
was  immediately  rephiced  by  another  at  the  mizenmast-head.  The 
firing  now  became  very  hot,  and  tho  enemy's  shot  and  shell  soon  begun 
to  tell  upon  our  hull — knocking  down,  killing  and  disabling  a  number 
of  men  in  different  parts  of  the  ship.  Perceiving  that  our  shell, 
though  appajently  exploding  against  the  enemy's  sides,  were  doing 
but  little  damage,  I  returned  to  solid  shot  firing,  and  from  this  time 
onward  alternated  with  shot  and  shell.  After  the  lapse  of  about  one 
hour  and  ten  minutes  our  ship  was  ascertained  to  be  in  a  sinking  cim- 
dition,  the  enemy's  shell  having  exploded  in  our  sides  and  between 
decks,  opening  large  apertures,  through  which  the  water  rushed  with 
great  rapidity.  For  some  few  minutes,  I  had  hopes  of  being  able  to 
reach  the  French  coast,  for  which  purpose,  I  gave  the  ship  all  steam 
ond  set  such  of  the  fore  and  aft  sails  as  were  available.  Tiie  ship 
filled  so  rapidly,  however,  that  before  we  had  made  much  progress  the 
fires  were  extinguished  in  the  furnaces,  and  we  were  evidently  on  the 
point  of  sinking.  I  now  hauled  down  my  colors  to  prevent  the  fur- 
ther destruction  of  life,  and  dispatched  a  boat  to  inform  the  enemy 
of  our  condition.  Although  we  were  now  but  four  hundred  yards 
from  each  other,  the  enemy  fired  upon  me  five  times  after  my  colors 
had  been  struck,  dangerously  wounding  several  of  my  men. 

It  is  charitable  to  suppose  that  a  ship  of  war  of  a  Christian  nation 
could  not  have  done  this  intentionally.  We  now  turned  ail  our  exer- 
tions towards  the  wounde^i,  and  such  of  the  boys  as  were  unable  to 
swim.  These  v/ere  dispatohed  in  my  quarter  boat?,  tha  only  boats 
remaining  to  me,  the  waist  boats  having  been  torn  to  pieces. 

S' me  twenty  minutes  after  my  furnace  fires  had  been  extinguished, 
and  the  ship  being  on  the  point  of  settling,  every  man,  in  obedience 
to  a  previous  order  which  had  been  given  to  the  crew,  jumped  over- 
board and  endeavored  to  save  himself.  There  was  no  appearance  of 
any  boat  coming  to  me  from  the  enemy  until  after  the  ship  went  down. 
Fortunately,  however,  the  steam  yacht  Deerhound,  owned  by  a  gentle- 
man of  Lancashire,  England,  Mr.  John  Lancaster,  who  was  himself 
on  board,  steamed  up  in  the  midst  of  my  drowning  men,  and  rescued 
a  number  of  both  officers  and  men  from  the  water.  1  was  fortunate 
enough  myself  thus  to  escape  to  the  shelter  of  the  neutral  flag, 
together  with  about  forty  others,  all  told.  About  this  time  the  Kear- 
sage  sent  one,  and  then,  tardily,  another  boat. 

Accompanying,  you  will  find  lists  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  and  of 
those  who  were  picked  up  b}'  the  Deerhound  The  remainder,  there 
is  iea5,on  to  hope,  were  picked  up  by  the  enemy  and  by  a  couple  of 
French  pilot  boats,  which  wee  also  fortunately  near  the  scene  of  ac- 
tion. At  the  end  of  the  engagement  it  was  discovered  by  those  of 
our  officers  who  went  alongside  the  enemy's  ship  with  the  wounded 
that  her  midship  section  on  both  sides  was  thoroughly  iron-coated; 
this  having  been  done  with  chains  constructed  for  the  purpose,  placed 
perpendicularly  from  the  rail  to  the  water's  edge,  the  whole  covered 
over  by  a  thin  outer  planking  which  gave  no  indication  of  the  armor 
beneath.     This  planking  had   been   ripped  off  in  every  direction   by 


u 

our  shot  and  shell,  the  chain  broken  and  indented  in  many  placea,  and 
forced  partly  into  the  ship's  side.  She  was  most  effectually  guarded, 
however,  in  this  section  from  penetration.  The  enemy  was  much 
damaged  in  other  parts,  but  to  what  extent  it  is  now  impossible  to  teil ; 
it  is  believed  he  was  badly  crippled. 

My  officers  and  men  behaved  steadily  and  gallantly,  and  though 
they  have  lost  their  ship  they  have  not  lost  honor.  Where  all  behaved 
so  well  it  would  be  invidious  to  particularise  ;  but  I  cannot  deny  my- 
self the  pleasure  of  saying  that  Mr.  Kell,  ray  first  lieutenant,  deserves 
great  credit  for  the  fine  condition  in  which  the  ship  went  into  action, 
with  regard  to  her  b:(ttery,  magazine  and  shell-rooms  ;  also  that  he 
rendered  me  great  assistance  by  his  coolness  and  judgment  as  the  fight 
proceeded. 

The  enemy  was  heavier  than  myself  both  in  ship,  battery  and  crew, 
but  I  did  not  know,  until  the  action  Avas  over,  that  she  was  also  iron- 
clad. Our  total  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  is  thirty,  to  wit :  nine 
killed  and  twenty-one  wounded. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant. 

R.  SEMMES, 

Captain. 


C,   S.  Stf.ajucr   Sampson,  ) 
June  i5(h,  1864.       5 


Flag-Officer  W.  W.  Hunter, 

C.  S.  N.,  Commandinfi;  Ajloat,  Savannah: 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  of  the  late  ex- 
pedition, under  the  command  of  First  Lieutenant  Thomas  P.  Pt-lot, 
Confederate  States  Navy,  which  resulted  in  the  capture,  by  boarding, 
of  the  United  States  steam-gunboat  Water-Witch,  lying  at  anchor  in 
Ossahaw  sound,  on  the  night  of  the  3d  of  June,  !S64. 

The  expedition,  consisting  of  seven  (7)  boats,  fifteen  oflicers  and 
one  hundred  and  seventeen  (117)  men,  detailed  by  your  order  from 
the  vessels  of  the  squadron,  a  correct  list  of  whom  you  will  find  en- 
closed, left  the  Confederate  States  steamer  Georgia  at  one  o'clock.  P. 
M.,  on  Tuesday,  3 1st  of  May,  in  tow  of  the  steam-tender  Fire-Fly. 
Arriving,  at  the  Isle  Hope  battery  at  five  o'clock,  P  M.,  cast  ofi'  from 
the  steamer  and  rowed  to  Beaulein  battery,  on  Vernon  river,  where  we 
camped  for  the  night.  The  next  da}' our  scouts  discovered  one  of  the 
enemy's  vessels  lying  at  anchor  in  the  little  Ogeechee  river,  close 
under  Racoon   Key. 

At  eight  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  expedition  got  under  weigh  and  formed 
in  two  columns.  Boats  numbers  one,. three,  five  and  seven,  composing 
the  port  column  ;  numbers  two,  four  and  six,  the  starboard  column, 
Lieutenant  Thomas  P  Pt-lot  commanding,  with  Second  Assistant  En- 
gineer Caldwell,  Confederate   States   Navy,  and   Moses  Dallas,  (col- 


cved,)  pilot,  led  in  boat  one ;  Lieutenant  Price,  with  Master's-mate 
Graj,  and  Second  Assistant  Engineer  Fabein  in  number  two  ;  Mid- 
shipman Minor,  with  Ma-ner's-mate  Freeman,  in  boat  number  three; 
Midshipman  Trimble  in  boat  number  four;  Boatswain  Seymour,  with 
Master's-mate  Barclay,  in  boat  number  five  ;  Master's-mate  H.  Golder, 
with  Assistant  Surgeon  Thomas,  in  boat  number  six  ;  Master's-mate 
Rostler,  with  Assistant  Surgeon  Jones,  in  boat  number  seven,  and  pro- 
ceeded, with  muffled  oars,  to  the  spot  where  we  supposed  the  enemy's 
vessel  to  be.  On  arriving,  we  found  that  she  had  either  shifted  her 
anchorage  or  that  we  had  been  mistaken  as  to  her  position.  After 
searching  in  vain  till  nearly  daylight.  Lieutenant  Pelot  ordered  Boat- 
swain Seymour,  with  one  man,  to  remain  on  Racoon  Keys  as  scouts, 
and  the  expedition  to  return  to  camp  at  Beaulein  battery  On  the 
next  day,  (June  3,)  at  nine  o'clock,  P.  M.,  we  again  got  under  weigh 
and  proceeded  to  Racoon  Keys,  where  we  took  on  boani  our  scouts, 
who  reported  that  one  of  the  enemy's  vessels  was  lying  in  Ossabaw 
sound,  about  three  miles  from  where  we  then  were.  Afier  waiting 
there  until  midnight  we  were  ordered  to  get  under  vreigh  and  pull 
cautiously.  The  night  being  dark  and  rainy,  we  got  close  aboard  of 
her  without  being  discovered.  On  being  hailed,  Lieutenant  Pelot 
answered  we  were  "  rebels,"  and  gave  the  order  to  "  boird  her." 
The  vessel,  having  steam  up  at  the  time,  as  soon  as  the  alarm  was 
given,  commenced  turning  her  wheels  backwards  and  forwards  rapidly, 
thus  thv»arting  the  earnest  efforts  of  Boatswain  Seymour  and  Master's- 
mate  Rostler  to  get  on  board  with  the  entire  boat's  crew. 

The  port  column,  led  by  Lieutenant  Pelot,  boarded  on  the  port 
side;  starboad  column,  led  by  Lieutenant  Price,  boarded  on  the  star- 
board side.  In  coming  alongside,  the  enemy's  fire  with  small  arms 
"Was  quite  severe  ;  in  fact  it  was  during  that  time,  and  v/hile  the  board- 
ing netting,  which  was  tied  up,  was  being  cut  through,  that  the  most 
of  our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  sustained.  After  a  sharp 
hand-to-hand  fight  of  some  ten  minutes,  the  ship  was  taken. 
Lieutenant  Pelot  was  the  first  to  gain  the  deck,  and,  while  bravely 
fighting,  was  shot  and  instantly  killed.  Li  his  death  the  country  has 
lost  a  brave  and  gallant  oliicer,  and  society  one  of  her  highest  orna- 
ments. 

The  command  then  devolved  upon  me,  and  1  proceeded  forthwith  to 
extricate  the  vessel  from  the  position  she  was  then  in  to  avoid  recap- 
ture by  the  enemy.  Our  pilot  having  been  killed  before  the  boats 
reached  the  side  of  the  ship,  I  sought  for  the  enemy's  pilot  and  found 
that  he  was  too  badly  wounded  to  assist  me,  but  finally  procured' one 
of  the  quartermasters  who  I  compelled  to  pilot  me  to  the  upper  end 
of  Racoon  Key,  where,  at  the  top  of  high  water,  the  ship  grounded.  I 
then  found  it  necessary  to  lighten  her,  which  I  did  by  throwing  over 
board  some  barrels  of  beef  and  pork,  a  few  coils  of  hemp  rigging, 
the  remainder  of  the  chain  which  I  had  slipped  as  soon  as  we  took 
the  vessel,  and  lowering  two  of  the  guns  in  the  boats.  On  getting 
ashore  I  immediately  landed  the  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners  at 
Beaulein  battery.  At  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  having,  in  the  meantime, 
obtained  a  pilot    from  the   shore,  I    succeeded  in  getting    off  and 


15 

anchored  her  at  seven  o'clock,  P.  M,,  under  the  guns  of  Beaulein 
battery,  above  the  obstructions,  when  Lieutenant  Games,  Confederatt 
States  xTavy,  bj  your  order,  arrived  on  board  and  assumed  com- 
mand. 

In  the  darkness  and  confusion  on  board  it'waa  impossible  forme  to 
observe  each  and  every  man  ;  but  I  will  state,  with  pjride,  every  one, 
officers  and  men,  did  theii'  duty  most  gallantly.  I  would  Ptate,  how- 
ever, that  I  owe  my  life  to  E.  D.  Davis,  ordinary  seamen  of  the  Con- 
federate States  steamer  Savaimah,  he  having  cut  down  every  oppenent 
when  I  was  sorely  pressed  by  them. 

Boatswain's-matc  J.  Perry,  of  the  steamer  Savannah,  and  Boat- 
swain's-mato  W,  S,  Johnston,  of  the  steamer  Sampson,  rendered  me 
most  valuable  assistance  in  lightening  the  vessel  and  general  duties 
oh  board.  The  former,  although  severely  wounded,  remained  on  deck 
as  long  as  he  could. 

The  Water-Yv'itch  is  a  side  wheel  steamer,  schooner  rigged,  of  three 
hjindred  and  seventy-eight  (378)  tons  burthen,  carries  four  (4)  guns — 
one  thirty-pound  rifle  gun  forward,  two  broadside  tw.elve-puuders, 
Dahlgreen  howitzers,  and  one  twelve-pound  rifled  brass  gun  aft — and 
a  crew  of  fifreen  commissioned  and  warrant  officers  and  sixty-five  men, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Commander  Austin  Pendergrast,  United 
States  navy. 

Enclosed  you  will  find  the  Surgeon's  report  of  killed  and  wounded. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOSEPH  PPJCE, 
Lieutenant  Confederate  States  Navy, 

Approved,  and  respectfully  forwarded. 

W.  W.  IIuNTKR,  jP/cfg-0///cer,  Commanding  AJloat. 
Savannah,  June  9th,  18G4. 


At  Wilmington,  N.  C,  June  6,  1S61. 


\iporl  of  the  Court  of  Inquiry  convened  to  examine  into  the  circumstances 
connected  with  the  lass  of  the  iro7i-c/ad  sloop  Raleigh,  on  the  Cape  Fear 


The  court  having  inquired  into  all  the  facts  connected  with  the  loss 
of  the  Confederate  States  steamer  Raleigh,  in  the  waters  of  North 
Carolina,  have  the  honor  to  report  the  8ame,  together  with  our  opinion 
upon  the  points  in  which  it  is  required  by  the  precept. 

In  the  opinion  of  tho  court,  the  loss  of  tbe  Raleigh  cannot  be 
attributed  to  negligence  or  inattention  on  tho  part  of  any  one  on 
board  of  her,  and  every  effort  was  made  to* save  said  vessbl.  We 
further  find  that  the  Raleigh  could  have  remained  outside  the  bar  of 
Cape  Fear  river  for  a  few"  hours  with  apparent  [safety  ;]  but,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  court,  it  would  have  been  improper;  and,  in  view  of 


14 

all    the    circumstances,   *'  her  commanding    officer   was  justified    in 
attempting  to  go  back  into  the  harbor  when  ho  did." 

It  is  further  the  opinion  of  the  court,  that  the  draft  of  water  of  the 
Raleigh  was  too  great,  even  lightened  as  she  had  been  on  this  occa- 
sion, to  render  her  passage  of  the  bar,  except  under  favorable  circum- 
stances, a  safe  operation,  particularly  as  her  strength  seems  to  have 
been  insufficient  to  enable  her  to  sustain  the  weight  of  her  armor  long 
enough  to  permit  overj  practicable  means  of  lightning  her  to  be  ex- 
hausted. 

GEORGE  N.  HOLLINS, 

Cojiiain  and  President. 
J.  W.  B.  Greknhow, 

Surgeon  and  Judge  Advocate. 


United  States  Kaval  Hospital,  > 
Pcj^^ffco/a,  August  25,  188'1.      P 

Hon.  S.  R.  Mallory, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the  enemy's  fleet,  under 
Admiral  Farragut,  consisting  of  fourteen  steamers  and  four  monitors, 
passed  Fort  Morgan  on  the  5th  instant,  about  half-past  six,  A.  M.,  in 
the  following  order,  and  stood  into  Mobile  Bay  :  The  four  monitors — 
Tecumseh  and  Manhattan,  each  carrying  two  twenty-inch  guns,  the 
Yvinnebago  and  Chickasaw,  each  carrying  four  eleven-inch  guns — 
in  a  single  line  ahead,  about  a  half  a  mile  from  the  fort;  the  fourteen 
steamers,  Brooklyn,  of  twenty-six,  Octorora,  ten,  Hartford,  twenty- 
eight,  Metacomet,  ten,  Richmond,  twenty-four.  Port  Royal,  eight, 
Lackawana,  fourteen,  Seminole,  nine,  Monongahela,  twelve,  Kenne- 
bec, five,  Ossippee,  thirteen,  Itasca,  four,  Oneida,  ten,  and  Galena, 
fourteen  giins,  in  double  line  ahead,  each  two  lashed  together,  the 
side-wheel  steamers  offshore,  all  about  four  miles  from  the  monitors, 
carrying,  in  all,  one  hundred  and  ninety-nine  guns  and  two  thcusand 
seven  hundred,  men.  When  they  were  discovered  standing  into  the 
channel,  signal  was  made  to  the  Mobile  squadron,  under  ray  com- 
mand, consisting  of  the  wooden  gunboats  Morgan  and  Gaines,  each 
carrying  six  guns,  and  the  Sclraa  four,  to  follow  my  motions,  in  the 
ram  Tennessee,  of  six  guns,  in  all,  twenty-two  gims  and  four  hun- 
dred and  seventy  Lien.  All  were  soon  under  way  and  stood  towards  the 
enemy,  in  a  line  abreast.  As  the  Tennessee  approached  the  fleet, 
when  opposite  the  fort,  we  opened  our  battery,  at  short  range,  upon 
the  leading  ship,  the  admiral's  flag-ship  Hartford,  and  made  the 
attempt  to  run  into  her,  but,  owing  to  her  superior  speed,  our  attempt 
was  frustrated.  We  then  stood  towards  the  next  heavy  ship,  the 
Brooklyn,  with  the  same  view;  she  also  avoided  us  by  her  superior 
speed.  During  this  time  the  gunboats  were  also  closely  engaged  with 
the  enemy;  all  our  guns  were  used  to  the  greatest  advantage,  and 
we  succeeded  in  seriously  damaging  many  of  the  enemy's  vessels. 


15 

The  Selma  and  Gaines,  under  Lieutenant  Commandants  P.  N.  Mur- 
phy and  J.  W,  Burnett,  fought  gallantly,  and  I  was  gratified  to  hear 
from  o^icers  of  the  enemy's  fleet  that  their  fire  was  very  destructive. 
The  Gaines  was  fought  unnl  she  was  found  to  be  in  a  sinking  condi- 
tion, when  she  was  run  on  shore  near  Fort  Morgan.  Lieutenant 
Commandant  JNIurphy  was  closely  engaged  with  the  Metacomet, 
assisted  by  the  Morgan,  Commander  Harrison,  who,  during  the  con- 
flict, deserted  him,  when,  upon  the  approach  of  another  large  steamer, 
the  Selma  surrendered.  I  refer  you  to  the  report  of  Lieutenant 
Commandant  Murphy  for  the  particulirs  cf  his  action.  He  lost  two 
promising  young  odicers,  Lieutenant  Corastock  and  Master's-mate 
Murray,  and  a  number  of  his  men  were  killed  and  wounded  ;  and  he 
was  also  wounded  severely  in  the  wrist.  Commander  Harrison  will 
no  doubt  report  to  the  Department  his  reason  for  leaving  the  Selma 
in  that  contest  with  the  enemy,  as  the  Mogan  was  uninjured.  His 
conduct  is  severely  commented  on  bj  the  officers  of  the  enemy's  fleet, 
much  to  the  injury  of  that  officer  and  the  navy. 

Soon  after  the  gunboats  were  dispersed,  by  the  overwhelming  supe- 
riority of  force,  and  the  enemy's  fleet  had  anchored  about  four  miles 
above  Fort  Morgan,  we  stood  for  them  again  in  the  Tennessee,  and 
renewed  the  attack,  with  the  hope  of  sinking  some  of  them  with  our 
prow,  and  again  were  foiled  by  their  superior  speed  in  avoiding  us.  The 
engagement  with  the  whole  fleet  soon  became  general,  at  very  close 
quarters,  and  lasted  about  an  hour,  and,  notwithstanding  the  serious 
injury  inflicted  upon  many  of  their  vessels  by  our  guns,  we  could  not 
sink  them.  Frequently  during  the  contest  we  were  surrounded  by  the 
enemy,  and  all  our  guns  were  in  action  almost  at  the  same  moment. 
Some  of  their  heaviest  vessels  ran  into  us  under  full  steam,  with  the 
view  of  sinking  us.  One  vessel,  the  Monongahcla,  had  been  prepared 
as  a  ram,  and  was  very  formidable.  She  struck  us  with  great  lorce, 
injuring  us  but  little.  Her  prow  and  stem  were  knocked  off",  and  the 
vessel  so  much  injured  as  to  make  it  necessary  to  dock  her.  '  Several 
of  the  other  vessels  of  the  fleet  were  found  to  require  extensive  re- 
pairs. I  enclose  to  you  »  copy  of  a  drawing  of  the  Brooklyn,  made 
by  one  of  her  oilicers  after  the  action  ;  and  an  officer  of  the  Hartford 
informed  me  that  she  was  more  seriously  injured  than  the  Brooklyn. 
I  mention  these  facts  to  prove  that  the  guns  of  the  Tennessee  were 
not  idle  during  this  unequal  contest.  For  other  details  of  the  action 
and  injuries  sustained  by  the  Tennessee,  I  refer  you  to  the  report  of 
Commander  J.  D.  Johnson,  which  has  my  approval.  After  I  was 
carried  below,  unfortunately  wounded,  I  had  to  be  governed  by  the 
reports  of  that  valuable  officer  as  to  the  condition  of  the  ship,  and  the 
necessity  and  time  of  her  surrender ;  and  when  ho  represented  to  me 
her  utterly  hopeless  condition  to  continue  the  fight  with  injury  to  the 
enemy,  and  suggested  her  surrender,  I  directed  him  to  do  the  best  he 
could,  and  when  he  could  no  longer  damage  the  enemy  to  do  so.  It 
aff'ords  me  much  pleasure  to  state  that  the  officers  and  men  cheerfully 
fought  their^guns  to  the  best  of  their  abilities,  and  gave  strong  evi- 
dence, by  their  promptness  in  executing  orders,  of  their  willingness 
to  continue  the   contest  as  long  as  they  could  stand    to  their  guns. 


16 

notwithstanding  the  f<atigue  they  had  undergone  for  several  hours, 
and  it  was  only  under  the  circumstances,  as  presented  by  Captain 
Johnston,  that  she  was  surrendered  to  the  fleet,  about  ten,  A.  M.,  as 
painful  as  it  was  to  do  so.  I  seriously  felt  the  want  of  experienced 
officers  during  the  action.  All  are  young  and  inexperienced,  and 
many  had  but  but  little  familiarity  with  naval  duties,  having  been 
appointed  from  civil  life  within  the  year.  The  reports  of  Commander 
Harrison,  of  the  Morgan,  and  Lieutenant  Commandant  Burnett,  of 
the  Gaines,  you  have  no  doubt  received  from  those  officers. 

I  enclose  the  report  of  Fieet-Sargeon  D.  B.  Conrad,  to  whom  I  am 
much  indebted  for  his  skill,  promptness  and  attention  to  the  wounded. 
By  permission  of  Admiral  Fiirragut,  he  accompanied  the  wounded  of 
the  Tennessee  and  Selma  to  this  hospital,  and  is  assisted  by  Assistant 
SurgL'ons  Booth  and  Bowles,  of  the  Selma  and  Tennessee,  all  under 
charge  of  Fleet-Surgeon  Palmer,  U.  S.  N.,  from  whom  we  have  re- 
ceived all  the  attention  and  consideration  wo  could  desire  or  expect. 

The  crews,  and  many  officers  of  the  Tennessee  and  Selma,  have 
been  sent  to  New  Orleans.  Commander  J,  D.  Johnston,  Lieu- 
tenant Commandant  P.  N.  Murphy,  and  Lieutenants  W.  L.  Bradford 
and  A.  D.  Wharton,  Second  Assistant  Engineer  J.  C.  O'Connell  and 
myself,  are  to  be  sent  North.  Master's-mates  W.  S.  Forrest  and  R. 
M.  Carter,  who  are  with  me,  acting  as  my  aids,  not  having  any  mid- 
shipmen, are  permitted  to  accompany  rae.  They  are  valuable  young 
officers,  zealous  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  and  both  have  served 
in  the  array,  where  they  received  honorable  Vi'ounds.  Their  services 
are  valuable  to  me. 

I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  ray  wound  is  improving,  and  sin- 
cerely hope  our  exchange  will  be  effected,  and  that  I  will  soon 
again  be  on  duty.  Enclosed  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  Tennessee' 
who  were  in  the  action. 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

FRANKLIN  BUCHANAN, 

Admiral. 

N.  B. — September  17. — Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  seen  the 
report  of  Admiral  Farragut,  a  portion  of  which  is  incorrect.  Captain 
Johnston  did  not  deliver  my  sword  on  board  the  Hartford.  After  the 
surrender  of  the  Tennessee,  Captain  Girard,  the  ofiicer  who  was  sent 
on  board  to  take  charge  of  her,  said  to  me  that  he  was  directed  by 
Admiral  Farragut  to  ask  for  my  svford,  which  was  brought  from  the 
cabin,  and  delivered  to  him,  by  one  of  my  aids. 


United  States  Naval  Hospital,      ) 
Navy-Yard^  Pcnsacola,  August  13,  1864.  ) 

Admiral  Franklin  Buchanan,  • 

Late  commanding  Naval  Defences  of  Alabama  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  circum- 


17 

stances  under  which  the  Confederate  States  ram  "  Tennessee,"  re- 
cently under  my  command  as  your  flag-ship,  was  surrendered  to  the 
United  States  fleet,  commanded  by  Rear  Admiral  Farragut,  in  Mobile 
bay. 

At  six  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  the  5ih  instant,  the  enemy's  fleet,  con- 
sisting of  four  iron-clad  monitors  and  fourteen  wooden  vessels,  were 
discovered  to  be  standing  up  the  channel  into  the  bay,  the  former  in 
a  single  line  nearest  to  fort  Morgan,  and  thela,tter  in  a  double  lino — 
each  two  vessels  being  lashed  together.  When  they  had  approached 
sufficiently  near  to  draw  the  fire  from  Fort  Morgan,  signal  was  made  to 
follow  your  motions,  and  the  **  Tennessee  "  was  moved  down  to  the 
middle  of  the  channel,  just  inside  the  line  of  torpedoe's,  stretching 
across  it,  from  whence  she  immediately  opened  her  battery  upon  the 
advancing  fleet.  Every  efl'ort  was  made,  at  the  same  timo,  to  ram 
each  of  the  leading  vessels,  as  they  entered  the  bay,  but  their  supe- 
rior speed  enabled  them  to  avoid  this  mode  of  attack  ;  the  first,  with 
the  Admiral's  flag,  passing  ahead,  and  all  the  remainder  astern,  before 
the  ship  could  be  turned  to  encounter  them. 

As  she  followed  the  fleet  into  the  bay,  the  leading  monitor,  the 
**  Tecumseh,"  was  discovered  to  be  sinking,  and,  in  a  few  seconds,  she 
disappeared,  taking  down  nearly  all  on  board,  consisting,  as  since 
learned,  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  souls.  The  Tennessee's  battery 
was  used  to  the  greatest  advantage,  as  long  as  the  fleet  were  within 
range,  and  when  they  reached  a  point  about  four  miles  from  Fort 
Morgan,  and  were  in  the  act  of  anchoring,  she  steamed  alone  up  to- 
wards them,  (the  other  vessels  of  the  squadron  having  been  dispersed.) 
and  attacked  them  as  soon  as  she  was  near  enough  to  render  her  fire 
eft'ectivc. 

The  whole  fleet  were  again  put  in  motion  to  receive  her,  and  she 
received  four  heavy  shocks,  by  the  heaviest  vessels  running  into  her 
at  full  speed,  soon  after  which  I  received  an  order  from  you,  in  person, 
to  steer  for  Fort  Morgan,  as  it  had  been  reported  by  the  acting  chief 
engineer  that  the  ship  was  leaking  rapidly.  At  this  time  it  was  re- 
ported to  me  that  the  wheel  chains  had  been  carried  away  ;  and,  or- 
dering the  relieving  tackles  to  be  used,  I  made  a  personal  examination 
of  the  broken  chains  to  ascertain  if  it  could  be  repaired  This  was 
found  to  be  impossible,  without  sending  men  outside  of  the  shield  to 
expose  themselves  several  minutes  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  veaseLs, 
by  which  the  after  deck  (over  which  the  chains  lead)  was  closely 
watched  and  constantly  swept  until  the  close  of  the  action. 

Returning  to  the  pilot-house  for  the  purpose  of  more  closely  ob- 
serving the  movements  of  the  enemy,  I  soon  received  a  report  that 
you  had  been  vrounded.  when  I  went  afc  to  see  you,  and,  while  there, 
found  that  the  after  port-cover  had  been  struck  by  a  shot  which  in- 
stantly killed  a  man  engaged  in  removing  the  pivot  bolt  upon  which 
it  revolved,  and  wounded  yourself  and  one  of  the  gun's  crew — ihe 
latter  mortally.  I  then  learned  that  the  two  quarter-ports,  out  of  which 
the  after  gun  was  intended  to  be  used,  had  also  been  so  jammed  by  the 
fire  of  the  enemy,  as  to  render  it  impracticable  to  remove  them, 
and  that  the  relieving  tackles  had  been  shot  aTyay,  and  the  tiller  un- 
2 


18 

shipped  from  the  rudder-head.  The  smoke  pipe  having  been  com- 
pletely riddled  by  shot,  was  knocked  down  close  to  the  top  of  the 
shield  by  the  concussion  of  vessels  running  into  the  ship.  At  the 
same  time  the  monitors  were  using  iheir  eleven  and  fifteen-inch  solid 
shot  against  the  after  end  of  the  shield,  while  the  largest  of  the  wooden 
vessels  were  pouring  in  repeated  broadsides  at  the  distance  of  only  a 
few  feet ;  and,  I  regret  to  say,  that  many  favorable  opportunities  of 
siking  these  vessels  w«re  unavoidably  lost  by  the  repeated  failure  of 
our  gun-primers.  The  bow  port-cover  was  struck  by  a  heavy  shot, 
as  also  the  cover  of  the  forward  port  on  the  port-side,  and  two  of 
the  broadside  port-covers  were  entirely  unshipped  by  the  enemy's 
shot. 

The  enemv  was  not  long  in  perceiving  that  our  steering  gear  had 
been  entirely  disabled,  and  his  monitors  and  heaviest  vessels  at  once 
took  position  on  each  quarter  and  astern,  from  whence  they  poured 
in  their  fire,  without  intermission,  for  a  period  of  nearly  half  an  hour, 
while  we  were  unable  to  bring  a  single  gun  to  bear,  as  it  was  impos- 
sible to  change  the  position  of  tht*  vessel,  and  the  steam  was  rapidly 
going  down,   as  a  natural  consequence    of  ^the  loss  of   the    smoke 

Feeling  it  my  duty  to  inform  you  of  the  condition  of  the  vessel,  I 
went  to  the  berth  deck  for  this  purpose,  and,  after  making  my  report, 
I  asked  if  you  did  not  think  we  had  better  surrender,  to  which  you 
replied  :  *'  Do  the  best  you  can,  sir,  and  when  all  is  done  surrender  ;" 
or  words  to  that  eflFect.  Upon  my  return  to  the  gun  deck  I  observed 
one  of  the  heaviest  vessels  of  the  enemy  in  the  act  of  running  into 
us  on  the  port-quarter,  while  the  shot  were  fairly  raining  upon  the 
after  end  of  the  shield,  which  was  now  so  thoroughly  shatterred  that 
in  a  few  moments,  it  would  ,have  fallen  and  exposed  the  gun  deck  to 
a  raking  fire  of  shell  and  grape. 

Realizing  our  helpless  condition  at  a  glance,  and  conceiving  that 
the  ship  was  now  nothing  more  than  a  target  for  the  heavy  guns  of 
the  enemy,  I  concluded  that  no  good  object  could  be  accomplished  by 
sacrificing  the  lives  of  the  ofiicers  andgmen  in  such  a  onesided  con- 
test, and  therefore  proceeded  to  the  top  of  tb«  shield,  and  took  down  the 
ensign  which  had  been  seized  on  to  the  handle  of  a  gun-scraper,  and 
stuck  up  through  the  grating.  While  in  the  act,  several  shot  passed 
close  to  me,  and  when  I  went  below  to  order  the  engines  to  be  stopped 
the  firing  of  the  enemy  was  continued.  I  then  decided,  although  with 
an  almost  bursting  heart,  to  hoist  the  white  flag,  and  returning  again 
on  to  the  shield,  placed  it  in  the  same  spot  where,  but  a  few  moments 
before,  had  fioated  the  proud  flag  for  whose  honor  I  would  so  cheerfully 
have  sacrificed  my  own  life,  if  I  could  possibly  have  become  the  only 
victim  ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  destroy 
the  ship  without  the  certain  loss  of  many  valuable  lives,  your  own 
among  the  number. 

It  is  with  the  most  heartfelt  satisfaction  that  I  bear  testimony  to 
the  undaunted  gallantry  and  cheerful  alacrity  with  which  the  officers 
and  men,  under  my  immediate  command,  discharged  all  their  duties  ; 
and  to   the  executive  officer,  Lieutenant  Bradford,  it  is  due  that  I 


19 

should  commend  the  regular  and  rapid  manner  in  which  the  battery 
was  served  in  every  particular. 

While  a  prisoner  on  board  the  United  States  steamer  <*  Ossipee," 
and  since  coming  into  this  hospital,  I  have  learned,  from  personal 
observation,  and  from  other  reliable  sources  of  information,  that  the 
battery  of  the  '*  Tennessee  "  inflicted  more  damage  upon  the  enemy's 
vessels  than  that  at  Fort  Morgan,  although  she  was  opposed  by  one 
hundred  and  eighty-seven  guns  of  the  heaviest  calibre,  in  addition 
to  the  twelve,  eleven  and  fifteen-inch  guns  on  board  the  three  mon- 
itors. 

The  entire  loss  of  the  enemy,  most  of  which  is  ascribed  to  the  **  Ten- 
nessee," amounts  to  quite  three  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded,  ex- 
clusive of  the  one  hundred  lost  in  the  "  Tecumseh,"  making  a  num- 
ber nearly  as  large  as  the  entire  force  under  your  command  in  this 
unequal  conflict. 

Fifty-three  shot-marks  were  found  on  the  "  Tennessee's  "  shield,, 
three  of  which  had   penetrated  so  far  as  to  cause  splinters  to  fly  on 
board,  and  the  washers  over  the    ends  of  the  bolts   wounded  several 
men. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  D.  JOHNSTON,. 
Commander  P.  N.   C   S^ 

LIST  OF  CASUALTIES  on  board  the  Confederate  States  ram  ''Ten- 
r?€Wfe,"  in  the  engagement  with  tlie  United  States  fleet  in  3Job^€  Bay, 
August  5,  1864. 

Killed — John  Silk,  first  class  fireman ;  Wm.  Moore,  seaman,  mortally 
wounded,  since  dead. 

Wounded — Admiral  F.  Buchanan,  leg  broken ;  Ahah  T.  Post, 
pilot,  on  head  ;  J.  C.  O'Connell,  secund  assistant  engineer,  in  le^T  and 
shoulder  ;  Wm.  Rogers,  third  assistant  engineer,  head  and  shoulder; 
James  Kelly,  boatswain's-mate,  in  knee;  Andrew  Rossmorsson,  quar- 
termaster, in  head  ;  Wm  Daly,  seaman,  in  head  :  Robert  Barry,  ma- 
rine, in  head  ;  James  McKann,  marine,  in  shoulder. 

Respectfully,  &c., 

J.  D.  JOHNSTON, 
Commander  P.  iV.  C.  S. 


Confederate  States  Steamer  Morgan,  > 
HlobUe  October  1,  1864.      5 

Admiral  F.  Buchanan  : 

Sir  :  I  respectfully  address  you  thi&  letter  for  the  purp^jse  of  re- 
lating the  particular  part  taken  by  this  vessel  in  the  action  with  the 
enemy's  fleet  on  the  5th  of  August  last. 

The  Morgan,  as  you  must  be  aware,  was  on  the  exsjeme  right  of 


ID 

the  Confederate  line  of  battle,  as  the  enemy  came  up  the  channel  from 
sea'ward  by  Fort  Morgan,  and  was  thus  enabled,  from  her  position 
ahead  of  him,  to  deliver  a  very  effective  broadside  raking  fire  into  his 
leading  vessel,  which  met  with  little  or  no  response  until  the  head  of 
his  column,  said  to  be  the  Hartford,  with  a  double-ender  lashed  to  her 
western  side,  had  approached  to  within  about  six  hundred  yards  of  ua, 
and  having,  with  others  in  the  rear,  well  entered  the  bay,  had  obliged 
our  line  of  battle  to  swing  back  by  its  right.  The  Hartford  was  then 
enabled  to' use  her  bow  gun  upon  us,  but  as  we  kept,  for  the  most  of 
the  time,  on  her  starboard  bow,  we  could  materially  injure  her,  whilst 
she  could  inflict  but  small  damage  upon  us.  Our  shell  are  reported  to 
have  several  times  struck,  and  one  in  particular,  from  our  forward  pivot 
gun,  must  have  been  considerably  destructive,  (afterwards  confirmed 
by  a  JSew  Orleans  account,)  as  it  struck  her  bulwarks  forward,  and 
for  a  time  silenced  the  gun  mounted  on  her  forecastle. 

We  maintained  our  excellent  position  until  towards  the  close  of  the 
action  with  the  Hartford,  when  we  fell  astern  to  her  beam,  and  the 
Selma  shot  ahead  of  us.  At  this  time  a  broadside  of  missiles  were 
thrown  at  us,  but,  fortunately,  the  greater  part  went  over,  only  a  few 
grape-shot  striking  us. 

The  enemy's  fleet  haql  now  accomplished  its  purpose,  being  entirely 
within  the  bay,  and  running  up  the  "  pocket"  of  deep  water,  known 
as  the  "lower  fleet."  The  Tennessee,  owing  to  her  slowness,  was  some 
distance  astern,  following  up  its  rear.  The  Gaines  had  been  disabled 
and  forced  out  of  action,  and  the  course  we  were  pursuing  was  taking 
us  further  and  further  away  from  the  peninsula — which  was  our  only 
place  of  refuge  in  case  of  being  hard  pressed — and  thus  the  chances 
•were  continually  increasing  cf  our  being  cut  off  from  all  retreat  by 
the  enemy's  gunboats,  which  I  foresaw  would  soon  be  thrown  off  from 
the  fleet  in  pursuit ;  so  I  sheered  off  to  the  starboard — the  Selma  doing 
the  same  ;  and,  as  I  had  anticipated,  a  double-ender,  said  to  be  the 
Metacomet,  in  a  few  minutes  after,  started  off  from  the  Hartford,  and 
soon  overhauled  and  engaged  in  action  with  my  vessel,  whilst  the 
Selma,  on  our  port  bow,  continued  her  retreat  (unfortunately  for  her) 
in  a  direction  to  cross  the  mouth  of  Bon  Secour  Bay,  and  reach  tbc 
eastern  shore  of  Mobile  Bay.  After  a  short  cannonading  between 
us,  the  Metacomet  slipped  off  and  steamed  rapidly  in  pursuit  of  tho 
Selma,  seeing  which,  and  that  my  vessel  would  inevitably  be  cut  off 
and  captured  by  the  two  other  vessels  of  the  enemy  now  on  the  way 
to  join  in  the  pursuit,  if  I  suffered  her  to  engage  in  a  "■  stern  chase, 
■which  is  always  a  long  one,"  and  knowing,  furthermore,  that  with 
the  coal  dust  on  board,  which  was  my  only  fuel,  1  could  not  possibly 
make  steam  enough  to  overtake  two  such  fast  vessels  as  the  Metacomet 
and  Selma,  going  off  as  they  Avere,at  "  top"  speed,  I  deemed  it  best  to 
turn  the  Morgan's  bow  directly  into  shallower  water,  and,  in  doing 
so,  we  grounded  ou  the  long  stretch  of  ehoals  which  extends  ofl  from 
the  land  a  little  to  the  eastward  of  Navy  Cove.  We  backed  off,  how- 
ever, in  a  few  minutes,  and  the  Selma,  having  by  that  time  surren- 
dered to  the  Metacoment,  and  the  other  chasing  gunboats  having 
nearly  reached  them,  I  directed   my  vessjl's   course  towards   Fort 


21 

Morgan,  on  approaching  which  we  discovered  a  small  Federal  gun- 
boat aground  on  the  western  side  of  the  seaward  channel,  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  below  the  fort.  1  steamed  down  towards  her,  and  sent 
a  boat,  with  Lieutenant  Thomas  L.  Harrison,  to  burn  her,  which  wa3 
accordingly  done.  She  proved  to  be  the  Phillippi,  disabled  by  a  shot 
from  the  fort,  and  abandoned.  Having  performed  this  duty,  we  re- 
turned to  the  fort  animade  fast  to  the  wharf. 

A  short  time  before  proceeding  on  this  affair  of  the  burning,  the 
Tennessee,  about  four  miles  distant  from  us,  after  a  desperate  contest 
with  the  enemy,  had  been  compelled,  by  being  disabled,  (as  we  after- 
wards learned,)  to  yield  to  an  overwhelming  force;  and  the  Morgan 
was  now  the  only  vessel  left  of  our  little  squadron.  I  felt  exceedingly 
anxious  to  save  her  to  the  Confederacy  by  "  running  the  gauntlet" 
up  the  bay  to  Mobile,  distant  about  twenty-five  miles,  but  it  seemed 
so  impossible  in  a  noisy  high-pressure  steamer,  making  black  smoke, 
to  pass  the  enemy's  fleet  unobserved,  or  to  elude  the  vigilance  of  his 
gunboats,  which  were  seen  after  the  action  to  go  up  the  bay,  that  I  gave 
up  the  idea,  at  one  time,  as  impracticable,  and  made  preparations  to 
take  to  the  boats,  as  the  Gaines'  people  intended  to  do  when  night 
should  come.  Upon  reconsideration  of  the  matter,  however,  I  deter- 
mined to  make  the  effort,  and  having  landed  three-fourths  of  my  pro- 
visions for  the  use  of  the  garrison,  and  thrown  overboard  my  coal 
dust,  for  the  purpose  of  picking  out  all  the  lumps  that  could  be  found, 
as  well  as  to  lighten  the  vessel,  I  started,  at  elven  P.  M.,  of  a  star- 
light night,  upon  an  enterprise  which  no  one  on  shore  or  afloat 
expected  to  be  successful.  Not  only  was  this  the  universal  opinion, 
but  all  letters  and  papers  from  the  fort  were  sent  in  charge  of  Lieu- 
tenant Commanding  Bennett,  in  his  boats,  which  were  to  go  up  along 
shore,  nor  would  the  two  or  three  town's  people,  who  happened  to  be 
down  there,  take  passage  with  us,  preferring  the  longer  and  safer 
route  by  land.  But  fortune  favored  us,  and,  although  hotly  pursued 
and  shelled  by  the  enemy's  cruisers  for  a  large  portion  of  the  way,  we 
successfully  reached  the  outer  obstructions  near  Mobile,  at  daybreak, 
having  been  struck  but  once  slightly.  We  found  the  "gap"  through 
the  obstructions,  much  to  our  surprise,  closed,  and  it  was  not  until 
the  afternoon  that  the  gate  was  pulled  sufficiently  aside  to  allow  us  to 
enter.  In  the  action  down  the  bay,  we  had  the  good  luck  to  escape 
Viith.  but  small  damage.  We  were  struck  but  six  times,  and  only  one  of 
that  number  did  any  harm,  and  that  entered  the  port  wheel-house  and 
passed  out  of  the  starboard,  destroying  some  muskets,  boarding  pikes 
and  stauncheons,  in  its  progress  over  the  deck.  Only  one  person  was 
wounded,  and  he  slightly,  by  a  splinter.  I  owe  this  exemption  from 
injury  and  loss,  doubtless,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  excellent  posi- 
tion I  was  enabled  to  keep  generally  on  the  Hartford's  bow.  The 
casualties,  however,  seem  to  have  been  small  in  all  the  vessels  save 
the  Selma. 

The  officers  and  men,  in  their  conduct,  afforded  me  much  satisfac- 
tion, particularly  as  the  most  of  them  had  never  been  under  fire 
before  ;  and  I  am  a  good  deal  indebted  to  my  executive  officer,  Lieu- 
tenant Thomas  L.  Harrison,  who  had  especial  charge  of  the   after 


m 

division  of  gung,  owing  to  an  insufficiency  of  officers,  for  his  hearty 
co-operation  and  assistance. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  W.  HARRISON, 

Commander. 

V.  S.—  Besides  the  two  other  double-enders  mentioned  in  the  fore- 
going as  having  left  the  fleet,  shortly  after  the  Metacomet,  to  join  in 
the  chase,  there  was  a  gunboat  also  which  followed  after  a  while. 

It  must  be  understood,  with  regard  to  the  Selma,  that  she  did  not 
discontinue  her  retreat  to  engage  the  Metacomet,  but  that  her  fighting 
was  done  with  her  after  gun,  fired  over  her  stern,  at  the  approaching 
vessel,  and  that  she  surrendered  whilst  the  Metacomet  was  yet  astern 
or  had  just  got  up. 

Very  respectfully,  &c., 

GEORGE  W.  HARRISON, 

Commander. 


[Copy.J 


Pensacola.  HosriTAL,  August  15,   1864, 
Admiral  Franklin  Buchanan,  C.  S.  N.  : 

Sir  :  The  shattered  state  of  my  nervous  system,  produced  by  tho 
wound  I  received,  has  prevented  my  making  my  report  before  this. 

Between  five  and  six  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  instant,  it 
was  reported  to  me  that  a  move  was  made  by  the  fleet  outside.  I  gave 
the  order  at  once  to  get  up  steam,  to  weigh  anchor  and  to  lash  both 
securely  and  then  to  go  to  breakfast ;  and,  if  wo  had  time,  for  the  crew 
to  clean  themselves.  The  "Selma"  was  lying  to  the  southward  and 
eastward  of  the  flagship,  and  much  nearer  the  shore.  After  the  anchor 
was  weighed,  the  steamer  dropped  down  with  the  tide  to  the  northward 
;and  eastward.  While  the  crew  were  at  breakfast  the  engagement 
commenced  and  many  shots  were  fired  by  both  sides  before  I  went  to 
quarters;  but  as  soon  as  the  crew  were  through  with  their  breakfast 
and  the  decks  were  cleared  up,  I  went  to  quarters  and  stood  slowly  to 
the  northward  and  westward,  under  easy  ateam,  and  nearly  parallel 
with  the  vessels  coming  in,  and  as  soon  as  I  passed  the  stern  of  the 
Tennessee  I  opened  on  the  enemy  with  all  my  guns,  and  continued  to 
fight  all  of  them  for  sometime,  when  I  perceived  the  "Metacomet"  was 
tov/ing  the  Hartford,  the  leading  ship,  when  I  gave  the  order  to  give 
her  all  the  steam  they  could  that  I  might  get  ahead  and  on  the  port 
side  of  her.  My  intention  was  perceived,  and  before  I  could  get  into 
-the  position  I  wanted,  the  "Metacomet"  cast  off  and  gave  chase.  A 
constant  fire  had  been  kept  up  all  the  time,  first  at  one  and  then  at 
another,  as  the  opportunity  offered.  Before  the  "Metacomet"  had 
.cast  off,  my  best  gunner  had  been  killed  by  a  piece  of  shell  from  the 


Hartford,  I  think  ;  but  several  vessels  were  firing  at  me  at  the  same 
time,  and  in  a  short  while  my  next  best  gunner  met  the  same  fate. 
The  fight  was  then  with  the  "Metacomet",  (carrying  eight  nine-inch 
Dahlgren  and  two  one  hundred-pounder  Parrott  guns,)  one  of  the 
fastest  vessels  in  their  squadron.  She  tried  hard  to  rake  me,  which 
was  prevented  by  good  steering.  The  "Metacomet,"  being  so  much 
faster,  soon  came  quite  near,  and,  firing  one  of  her  nine-inch  guns, 
killed  six  and  wounded  seven  men  at  the  same  gun  as  well  as  disabling 
the  gun  itself.  I  had  only  been  able  to  use  two  of  the  four  guns 
which  composed  the  battery  of  the  "Seluia"  for  some  time,  and  the 
crew  of  No.  1  gun  had  just  been  sent  aft  to  assist  in  working  these 
two. 

My  First  Lieutenant  Wm.  Comstock  and  Master's-m^te  Murray 
were  both  killed  by  the  same  shot,  and  I  was  wounded  in  the  left  arm 
after  firing  one  or  two  shots  more. 

I  perceived  that  the  "Mctaccnet"  was  about  to  rake  me  with  grape 
and  shrapnel,  and  that  the  Port  Royal,  of  about  the  same  class,  was 
about  to  open  on  me  also,  and  as  I  did  not  believe  that 
I  was  justified  in  sacrificing  more  of  my  men  in  such  an  unequal 
contest,  I  gave  the  order,  at  about  half-past  nine  o'clock,  to 
haul  down  the  colors.  My  wound  was  bleeding  fast  and  I  knew  if  I 
left  the  deck  for  one  moment  tho  vessel  might  bo  sunk.  I  had  eight 
killed  and  seven  wounded.  My  deck  was  a  perfect  slaughter-pen 
when  I  surrendered. 

I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  officers  and  crew.  Not  the  least 
confusion  occurred  during  the  action.  The  wounded  were  taken 
below  and  the  men  returned  instantly  to  their  quarters.  The  powder 
division  was  beautifully  attended  to  ;  every  charge  and  every  shell 
were  sent  to  the  difi'erent  guns  without  a  single  mistake.  The  enemy 
acknowledge  great  loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  inflicted  on  them  by 
the  ''Selma." 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

P.  N.  MURPHY,  C.  S.  N. 


Mobile,  Ala.,  August  8,  18G4. 

Hon.  S.  Pt.  Malllorv, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy^  Richmond,  Va.  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  a  report  of  the  part  taken  by  the 
**  Gaines,"  under  my  command,  in  the  action  of  the  5th  instant,  off 
Fort  Morgan,  and  the  circumstances  which  led  to  the  beaching  and 
abandonment  of  the  ship  : 

The  "  Gaines  "  was  cleared  for  action  about  twenty  minutes  past  six 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  and,  in  obedience  to  signal  from  the  Admiral  "  to  follow 
his  motions,"  waited  for  him  to  open  upon  the  advancing  enemy — 
advancing  with  four  monitors  in  line  ahead,  and  fourteen  wooden  vessels 
by  twos,  each  large  ship  having  a  smaller  one  lashed  to  her  port-side, 


24 

the  T>hole  forming  ono  compict  line  of  battle.  As  soon  as  the  "  Ten- 
nessee" delivered  fire,  the  "Gaines,"  having  placed  herself  next  the  Ad- 
miral, commenced,  at  abcut  two  thousand  yards  distance,  with  her  pivot 
guns,  upon  the  leading  vrooden  ships,  supposed  to  bo  the  "  Hartford" 
and  her  consort,  at  about  fiftv  minutes  past  six,  as  nearly  as  I  can 
determine,  and  continued  to  deliver  a  raking  fire  upon  the  leading 
wooden  M)ips  until  their  passage  past  the  Fort.  She  then  made  one 
circle  to  prevent  too  close  action,  as  she  was  lying  nearly  in  the 
track  of  the  advancing  fleet,  and  afterwards  steered  in  nearly  parallel 
lines  with  the  enemy  at  distances  gradually  diminishing,  until  she  was 
■within  at  least  seven  hundred  yards,  and  engaging  with  her  port 
guns.  The  enemy  now  being  clear  of  the  Fort  was  enabled  to  direct 
attention  exclusively  to  our  little  squadron. 

Early  in  the  action  a  shell  exploded  near  the  steering  wheel,  wound- 
ing the  tsvo  men  stationed  at  it,  and  cutting  the  wheel-rope.  The 
ship  was  then  steered  with  the  relieving  tackles  until  the  after  wheel- 
ropes  could  be  rove.  Shortly  after  this,  it  was  reported  that  the  for- 
ward magazine  was  filled  with  smoke,  and  thought  to  be  on  fire. 
This,  on  examination,  luckily,  proved  a  mistake.  An  eleven-inch 
shot  had  entered  the  starboard  bow,  striking  the  deck  above  the  maga- 
zine, had  broken  it  in,  and  made  so  much  dust  that  the  gunner^s-mate, 
serving  powder  in  that  magazine,  thought  it  smoke,  and  believed,  from 
the  shock  and  dust,  that  a  shell  had  exploded  and  fired  that  part  of 
the  ship.  lie  reported  accordingly.  This  occasioned  a  short  delay 
in  the  serving  of  powder  to  the  forward  division.  The  firemen  of 
this  division,  with  hose  and  buckets  v.^ent  promptly  to  the  spoi-^  under 
the  executive  officer,  and  soon  discovered  the  mistake.  About  this 
time  the  ship  was  subjected  to  a  very  heavy  concentrated  fire,  from  the 
**  Hartford,"  "  Richmond,"  and  others  at  short  range,  as  the  enemy 
passed  mc.  Nearly  their  whole  fire  seemed,  for  a  time,  to  be  directed 
at  the  -"  Gaines."  The  after  magazine  was  now  discovered  filling 
with  water.  I  went  below  to  examine  it,  and  found  much  water  had 
accumulated  in  it,  and  was  rapidly  increasing.  Not  being  aware  of 
any  shot  having  entered,  near  the  water,  that  part  of  the  ship,  and 
being  unable  to  see  any  damage,  upon  inspection  from  the  side,  which 
could  have  caused  such  a  leak,  I  directed  the  executive  officer,  vfith 
the  carpenter's- mate,  to  get  into  a  boat  and  make  examination  of  the 
counter.  He  found  a  shot  had  broken  in  the  outer  planking  under 
the  port-quarter,  about  the  water-line,  and  which,  from  marks,  seemed 
to  have  glanced  below  in  the  direction  of  the  stern-post.  This 
could  not  be  stopped  by  reason  of  the  impossibility  of  getting  to  it, 
because  of  the  fiare  of  the  counter.  As  this  break  could  not  have 
caused  all  the  water  which  flowed  into  the  ship,  I  am  of  opinion 
that  it  was  a  shell  which  had  caused  the  break  and  had  proba- 
bly exploded  below  water,  under  the  counter,  and  had  started  the 
timbers  near  the  stern-post.  The  ship  had  received  a  shock  dur- 
ing the  engagement,  which  shook  her  from  stem  to  stern,  being 
much  more  violent  than  that  of  shot  passing  through.  The  bilge 
pumps  were  immediately  worked,  but  there  was  no  water  in  the  engine 
room.     Finding  the  magazine  rapidly  filling,  also  the  after  hold  and 


25 

shell  room,  'withno  water  ia  the  engine  room,  I  ciasei  the  aftor  bulk- 
head of  the  engine  room  to  be  knocked  down  so  as  to  allow  the  flow 
of  water  to  the  bilge  pumps.  By  this  time  the  stern  had  settled  some 
:ind  the  stcerinjr  became  difficult.  Under  these  circumstances  I  de- 
termined  to  withdraw  from  action.  The  enemy's  fleet  had  now 
passed. 

Finding  the  ship  would  sink  in  a  short  time,  and  thinking  I  might 
be  able  to  reach  the  shore,  now  about  two  or  three  miles  distant,  I 
withdrew  from  action,  and  made  the  best  of  my  way  towards  the  fort, 
steering  the  ship  principally  with  the  side  wheels,  which  position  I 
reached  without  embarrassment  from  the  enemy — thanks  to  an  oppor- 
tune rain  squall  which  shut  from  me  view — and  placed  her  bow  upon  the 
beach  within  five  hundred  yards  of  Fort  Morgan,  about  thirty  min- 
utes past  nine  o'clock. 

I  am  happy  to  state  there  was  no  confusion  or  panic  under  the  cir- 
cumstances of  our  position,  but  that  every  work  was  done  with  delib- 
eration and  without  undue  excitement.  The  ship  delivered  fire  to 
the  enemy  at  the  moment  of  striking  the  shore. 

At  the  time  of  breaching,  the  magazine  was  nearly  filled  ;  I  had 
caused  all  the  po^dftr  to  be  removed  to  the  cabin.  The  shells  were 
removed  as  rapidly  as  possible,  but  not  before  many  of  them  might  have 
become  submerged.  The  usefulness  of  the  ship  having  been  destroyed 
by  the  enemy,  I  devoted  mvself  and  crew  to  the  preservation  of  all 
valuable  material,  and  landed  all  the  powder,  shells,  shot,  gun  equip- 
ments, &c.,  which  I  gave  to  the  General  commanding  at  Fort  Morgan, 
to  whom  1  thought  they  might  be  useful  in  the  expected  siege.  The 
crew  were  then  landed,  with  their  bags  and  blankets,  muskets,  cut- 
lasses, and  small-arm  ammunition,  and  the  ship  abandoned  at  twelve 
o'clock,  with  her  battle-flags  flying,  and  her  stern  settled  as  far  as  it 
could — about  two  fathoms.  I  did  not  spike  the  guns,  because  they 
could  be  secured  by  the  fort,  and  could  not  be  taken  by  the  enemy. 

Having  thus  left  my  command,  it  became  necessary  to  devise  a  re- 
treat for  my  crew — they  were  not  necessary  to  the  fort,  as  I  was 
informed  when  I  offered  their  services.  Already  I  had  secured  two 
boats  belonging  to  the  "Tennessee,"  left  by  her  at  anchor,  and  with 
four  boats  of  the  "Gaines"  one  having  been  destroyed  by  shot.  I  left 
the  fort  at  eight  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  reached  Mobile  at  seven  o'clock, 
A.  M,,  on  the  6th,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  officers  and 
men,  small  arms,  &c.,  and  with  six  boats  passed  the  enemy's  fleet  with- 
out observation,  and  reported  myself  and  crew  to  the  senior  officer  for 
further  service.  Not  a  man  was  lost  by  straggling,  and  I  brought  up 
the  wounded.  The  dead  were  buried  on  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  in 
the  fort's  burial  ground.  We  had  only  two  killed  and  three  wounded. 
The  surgeon's  report  of  casualties  I  herewith  enclose. 

"Whilst  running  the  gauntlet  up  the  bay,  I  became  apprehensive  of 
capture  or  of  being  forced  to  land  and  make  a  march  to  Mobile.  The 
"Morgan"  was  being  chased  by  the  enemy.  As  I  knew  it  was  her 
intention  to  pass  near  the  eastern  shore,  and  could  see  her  approach 
us,  I  feared  she  might  lead  the  enemy  upon  the  boats.     Under  these 


circumstances  I  deemed  it   prudent  to  drop  the   signal  book  into  the 
sea.     I  did  so. 

The  officers  and  crew  of  the  "Gaines,"  for  about  ten  or  fifteen  min- 
utes, were  subjected  to  a  very  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy  at  short 
distance,  and,  I  am  proud  to  say,  stood  it  with  great  gallantry;  there 
were  two  or  three  exceptional  cases  only.  Without  casting  censure 
upon  any  by  ray  silence,  I  cannot  withhold  the  expression  of  my 
thanks  to  Lieutenant  Payne,  Passed  Assistant  Surgeon  Iglehart,  Sec- 
ond Assistant  Engineer  Debois,  Gunner  Offut,  and  Paymaster's  Clerk 
Wilson,  (in  charge  of  the  supply  of  shells  to  the  after  division,)  for 
their  examples  of  coolness  and  gallantry,  under  the  trying  circum- 
stances of  this  combat  against  an  overwhelming  force,  and  the  in- 
fluence it  must  have  had  among  the  crew — most  of  whom  had  never 
before  been  in  action.  Frequent  interviews  with  these  officers  caused 
me  to  regard  them  with  admiration. 

The  ship  received  seventeen  shots  in  her  hull  and  smoke  stack  ;  of 
these  only  two  can  be  said  to  have  caused  her  any  distress — that 
which  caused  the  leak,  and  the  cutting  of  the  wheelropes. 

As  is  usual  and  proper  when  a  ship  is  lost,  I  beg  the  department  to 
order  a  court  of  inquiry  to  investigate  the  causes  which  led  to  the 
abandonment  of  the  "Gaines." 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed,)  J.  W.  BENNETT, 

Lieutenant  commanding. 


Mobile,  August  9,  18G4. 

Lieutenant  Commanding  J.  W.  Bennett, 

a  S.  Steamer  ''Gaines''  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  casualties 
on  board  the  steflimer  "Gaines"  during  the  engagement  on  the  morn- 
ing of  August  5th. 

Daniel  Ahern,  (quarter  gunner,)  killed  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell, 
tearing  open  the  abdomen  completely  across  (the  intestines  escaping 
through  the  wound)  and  fracturing  and  terribly  lacerating  the  right 
thigh.  Michael  Vincent,  (seaman,)  killed  by  a  large  splinter,  the  abdo- 
men being  torn  across  and  contents  entirely  exposed.  W.  W.  Smith, 
(first  quartermaster,)  and  Thos.  Woods,  (seaman,)  received  severe  con- 
tusions of  both  thighs  and  legs  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell,  whilst 
standing  at  the  wheel.  Newton  Williams,  (Ids.,)  wounded  by  a 
splinter,  the  extremities  of  two  fingers  of  the  left  han(4  being  badly 
lacerated,  but  not  requiring  amputation.  Several  others  received 
slight  scratches,  but  no  treatment  was  necessary.  All  are  doing 
well. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed,)  0.  S.  IGLEHART, 

Passed  Assistant  Surgeon,  P.  JS.   C.  S. 


[Copy.] 

Richmond,  Va.,  August  31,  1S64. 

Hon.  S.  R.  Mallory, 

Secretary  of  Ihe  Navy  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  cruise 
of  the  Confederate  States  steamer  **  Tallahassee  :" 

After  two  days  ineffectual  effort,  on  account  of  the  water,  to  get  to 
sea,  at  the  eastern  bar  on  New  Inlet,  we  succeeded  in  getting  out  on 
the  night  of  the  6th  instant,  at  the  western  bar — sighted  five  of  the 
blockaders  and  were  fired  on  by  two. 

The  next  day,  were  chased  at  different  times  by  four  of  the  off  shore 
fleet,  and  fired  upon  by  one  ;  did  not  return  it  as  it  would  betray  the 
ship. 

Spoke  and  overhauled  a  number  of  vessels,  but  they  were  all  Euro- 
pean. Not  until  the  1 1th,  within  eighty  miles  of  Sandy  Hook,  did  we 
fall  in  with  a  Yankee.     I  enclose  a  list  of  the  captures. 

Remained  off  New  York  two  days,  then  ran  to  the  eastward,  around 
George's  Banks  to  the  coa*t  of  Maine,  going  into  the  mouth  of  the 
Penobscot,  thence  to  Halifax,  Novia  Scotia,  for  coal,  where  I  arrived 
on  the  18th,  with  only  forty  tons  on  board. 

I  called  at  once  on  the  Admiral,  Sir  James  Hope  and  the  Lieutenant 
Governor,  Sir  Richard  Macdonnell.  My  reception  by  the  first  was  very 
cold  and  uncivil,  that  of  the  Governor  less  bo.  1  stated  that  I  was 
in  want  of  coal,  and  as  soon  as  I  could  fill  up,  I  would  go  to  sea;  that 
it  would  take  from  two  to  three  days.  No  objection  was  made  at  the 
time,  if  there  had  been  I  was  prepared  to  demand  forty-eight  hours 
for  repairs. 

The  Governor  asked  me  to  call  next  day  and  let  him  know  how  I 
was  progressing,  and  when  I  would  leave.  I  did  so,  and  then  was 
told  that  he  was  surprised  that  I  was  still  in  port ;  that  we  must  leave 
at  once  ;  that  we  could  leave  the  harbor  with  only  one  hundred  tons 
of  coal  on  board.  I  protested  against  this,  as  being  utterly  insuffi- 
cient ;  he  replied  that  the  admiral  had  reported  that  quantity  sufficient 
(and  in  such  matters  he  must  be  governed  by  his  statement)  to  run  the 
ship  to  Wilmington.  The  admiral  had  obtained  this  information  by 
sending  on  board  three  of  his  officers,  ostensibly  to  look  at  our  ma- 
chinery and  the  twin-screw,  a  new  system,  but  really  to  ascertain  the 
quantity  of  coal  on  board,  that  burnt  daily,  &c. 

All  of  their  questions  were  answered  frankly,  for  no  suspicion  was 
entertained  of  their  object.  He  cited  the  Queen's  proclamation, 
orders  in  council,  kc.  I  told  him  I  knew  their  import,  but  the  day 
before  had  called  and  stated  what  I  came  for,  how  long  it  would  take, 
and  had  received  permission  to  remain  two  or  three  days;  that  it  was 
too  late  then  to  change  his  policy.  He  replied  by  stating  he  must 
carry  out  the  instructions  he  had  received. 


28 

Several  of  our  men  had  been  enticed  off.  I  asked  for  the  assistance 
of  the  police  in  securing  them  ;  he  refused,  and  refused  to  allow  our 
ofBcers  to  arrest  them  on  shore,* 

On  going  on  board  I  found  Captain  McGuire,  of  the  frigate  "  Ga- 
listea,"  there  with  eleven  armed  boats,  sent  by  the  admiral  to  enforce 
the  Governor's  orders,  a  proceeding  made  more  offensive  by  coming 
from  a  ship  in  quarantine  on  account  of  the  small  pox  on  board,  I 
requested  their  withdrawal,  and  soon  after,  by  the  Governor's  wish, 
they  were  ordered  away. 

During  the  afternoon  of  the  19th,  the  engineer  reported  but  eighty 
tons  of  coal  on  board.  I  addressed  a  note  to  the  Governor  stating 
this  fact,  and  requiring  time  to  complete  the  amount  as  well  as  to  get 
on  board  a  mainmast  which  had  been  ordered. 

I  enclose  copies  of  his  replies  as  well  as  one  of  a  letter  from  the 
Governor,  which  miscarried  and  did  not  reach  me  until  too  late  for 
me  to  answer  it. 

I  am  under  many  obligations  to  our  agent  Mr.  Weir  for  transacting 
our  business,  and  through  his  management,  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  tons  of  coal  were  put  aboard  instead  of  half  this  quantity. 
This,  at  the  ti'uie,  I  kncAv  nothing  off.  I  directed  the  paymaster  to  issue 
to  the  officers  and  men  a  limited  amount  of  specie,  for  the  purchase  of 
clothing,  of  which  some  were  greatly  in  want.  I  sailed  on  the  night 
of  the  19th,  remaining  in  port  about  forty^iours. 

Had  I  procured  the  coal  needed,  I  intended  to  have  struck  the  coast 
at  the  capes  of  the  Delaware,  and  followed  it  down  to  Cape  Fear  ;  but 
I  had  only  coal  enough  to  reach  Wilmington,  on  the  night  of  the  36th. 

During  that  day  was  chased  by  two  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  and  at 
night  engaged  the  blockading  fleet  as  we  came  in.  In  the  darkness, 
the  effect  of  our  shot  could  not  be  seen. 

On  leaving,  the  officers  and  men,  with  few  exceptions,  were  untried 
and  unused  to  ship  board;  but  all  were  zealous,  and  all  did  their  duty. 

The  ship  behaved  well,  in  fact,  carries  her  battery  without  trouble, 
and  I  recommend  that,  with  some   alterations,  she  be  retained  in  the 
service.     I  enclose  the  report  of  the  chief  engineer. 
Respectfully,  &c.,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed,)  J.  TAYLOR  WOOD, 

a  s.  N. 


[Copy.] 

Government  House,  Halifax  Noya  Scotia, 
August  19,  1864. 

Commander  J.  Taylor  Wood, 

Confederate  Cruiser^  Tallahassee  : 

Sir:  In  reply  to  your  application  for  additional  time  to  ship  a 
mainmast,  I  have  no  objection  to  grant  it,  as  I  am  persuaded  that  I 
can  rely  on  your  not  taking  any  unfair  advantage  of  the  indulgence 


29 

"whicli  I  concede.  I  do  so  the  more  readily,  because  I  find  that  you 
have  not  attempted  to  ship  any  more  than  the  quantity  of  coals  neces- 
sary for  your  immediate  uso. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed,)  RICHARD  GRAVES  MACDONNELL. 


[Copy.] 

Provisional  Secretary's  Offce,  } 
Halifax^  August  19,  l»Gi.       5 

J.  Taylor  Wood, 

Commander  C.  S.  Tallahassee  : 

Sir  :  In  reply  to  your  letter  to  me  of  this  date,  I  am  charged  by 
his  Excellency,  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  to  say  that  he  has  no  ob- 
jection to  allow  you  the  time  required  to  complete  your  complement 
of  coals,  and  that  his  Excellency  is  much  gratified  to  learn  that  you 
have  not  used  the  extra  time  in  taking  in  a  larger  supply  of  coal 
than  was  demanded  by  your  immediate  necessity, 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed,)  C.  TUPPER, 


[Copy.I 

Government  IIouse,  August  19,  1864. 

Commander  Wood, 

Coiifederate  Crusicr  Tallahassee  : 

Sir:  I  have  learned,  with  much  surprise,  that  you  are  still  in 
the  port  of  Halifax,  notwithstanding  my  having,  yesterday,  warned 
you  that  your  stay  must  be  limited  to  twenty-four  hours.  As  you 
have  occupied  the  excess  of  time  beyond  that  allowed  to  you  in 
taking  coals  on  board,  I  am  obliged  to  request  that  you  will  imme- 
diately discharge  all  coals  taken  in  since  the  lapse  of  the  iwenty-four 
hours  allowed  to  you.  I  much  regret  that,  in  maintaining  the  strict 
neutrality  which  I  am  enjoined  by  her  Majesty's  Government  to 
observe,  I  find  myself  compelled  to  adopt  anything  like  harsh 
measures. 

You  must,  however,  have  been  well  aware  that  you  were  only 
entitled  to  sufficient  coal  to  take  you  to  the  nearest  Confederate  port, 
and  any  inconvenience  which  you  may  suffer  is  caused  by  your  own 
act. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 
(Signed,)  RICHARD  GRAVES  MACDONNELL. 


90 


List  of  Vessels  Captured. 

August  Wih,  1864. — Schooner  Sarah  A.  Boyce,  of  Egg  Harbor, 
A.  S.  Adams  master  ;  tonnage  33 1  80-95,  (scuttled,)  in  ballast. 

Pilot-boat  James  Funk,  No.  23,  of  New  York,  Robert  Yates  master; 
tonnage  I2i),  91-95,  (burnt.) 

Brig  Carrie  Estelle,  Mark  Thurlow  master  of,  from  Grand  Men- 
nan  to  New  York,  (cargo  logs;)  tonnage  248,  75-95,  (burnt.) 

Barque  Bay  State,  Thomas  Sparrow  master,  of  Boston,  bound 
from  Alexandria  to  New  York  with  wood  tonnage  199  ;  47-95, 
(burnt.) 

Brig  A.  Richards,  Charles  Dunnovant  master,  of  Boston,  from 
Glace  Bay,  Cape  Breton  island,  to  New  York,  with  coal ;  tonnage  274 
3U-95,  (burnt.) 

Shooner  Carrol,  Sprague  master,  of  East  Machias,  tonnage ; 

bonded  in  sum  of  $10,000. 

Pilot-boat  William  Bell,  of  New  York,  No.  24,  James  Callahan 
master;  tonnage ,  (burnt.) 

August  I'ith,  1864. — Schooner  Atlantic,  of  Addison,  from  Addi- 
son to  New  York,  P.  W.  Look  master;  tonnage  156  27-95, 
(burnt ) 

Ship  Adriatic,  of  New  York,  R.  H.  Moore  master,  from  London 
to  New  York,  with  emigrants  ;  tonnage  989  22-95,  (burnt.) 

Barque  Suliote,  bonded. 

Schooner  Spokane,  of  Fremont,  C.  H.  Sayer  master,  from  Calais, 
Maine,  to  New  York,  with  lumber  ;  tonnage  126  3-95,  (burnt.) 

Brig  Billow,  of  Salem,  M.  A.  Reed  master,  from  Calais  to  New 
York,  with  lumber,  scuttled  ;  tonnage  173  31-95. 

Schooner  Robert  E.  Packer,  of  Bath,  from  Baltimore  to  Richmond, 
Maine,  with  lumber;  tonnage,  222,  (Jos.  E.  Marson  master,)  bonded, 
vessel  $20,tlOO  and  cargo  ^10,000. 

August  \3th. — Barque  Glenavon,  of  Thomaston,  from  Greenock  to 
New  York,  James  Watts  master  ;  tonnage  789  3-95,  (scuttled.) 

Schooner  Lammot  Dupont,  of  Wilmington,  Delaware,  L.  0.  Cor- 
son master,  from  Cow  Bay,  Cape  Breton,  to  New  York,  with  coal ; 
tonnage  194   14-95,  (burnt) 

August  \Stk,  1864. — Ship  James  Littlefield,  of  Bangor,  Maine,  H. 
N.  Bartlett  master,  from  Cardiff  to  New  York,  with  coal  ;  tonnage 
547,  (scuttled.) 

Augw^t  \5tk,  1864— -Schooner  Mary  A.  Homes,  of  Chatham,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Steven  A.  Homes  master,  from  to  ■ ;  ton- 
nage 61,  (scuttled.) 

Schooner  Howard,  of  New  York,  from  Bridgeport,  C.  B.  Island  to 
New  York,  with  coal,  J.  Ketting  master;  147  69-95  tons,  (scut- 
tled.) 

Schooner  Floral  Wreath,  of  Georgetown,  Maine,  Chandler  master, 
from  Bay  St.  Lawrence;  tonnage  54  11-95,  cargo  wood,  (scuttled.) 

Schooner  Sarah  B.  Harris,  Ambrose  Delano,  master,  of  Dorchester, 
bound  to  Portland,  -with ;  tonnage  —^ ,  (bonded.) 


SI 

Schooner  Restless,  of  Booth  Bay,  Levy  Blake  master,  homeward 
bound  from  Bay  St.  Lawrence  ;  tonnage  49  54-95,  fisherman,  (scut- 
tled.) 

Schooner  Etta  Caroline,  of  Portland,  David  N.  Poor,  master;  ton- 
nage 39  23-95,  fisherman,  (scuttled.) 

August  }6th,  1864. — Barque  P.  C.  Alexander,  of  Ilarpwell,  A.  B. 
Merryman  master,  from  New  York  to  Picton,  in  ballast  ;  283  tons, 
(burnt.) 

Schooner  Leopard,  George  Conely  master,  from  Cornwallis,  N.  S., 
to  Boston,  with  wood;    73  92-95  tons,  (burnt) 

Schooner  Pearl,  of  Friendship,  Maine,  Ilufus  Geyer  master  ; 
41   G6-95  tons,  fisherman,  (burnt.) 

Schooner  Sarah  Louise,  of  Jonesport,  Maine,  George  Dobbin 
master;   81   3-95  tons;  cargo  wood,  (burnt.) 

.  Schooner  Magnolia,  of  Friendship,  Owen  Wincapaw  master  ;  ton- 
nage 35  23-95,  fisherman,  (burnt.) 

August  \ltli. — Schooner  North  America,  of  New  London,  David 
Maiuwaring  master;  tonnage  82  47-95,  (scuttled.). 

Brig  Neva,  of  East  Machias,  E.  J.  Tolbert,  master  from  Lyngan 
to  New  York,  with  coal,  28G  tons;  (bonded  for  $17,500.) 

Schooner  Josiah  Achorn,  of  Rockland,  Maine,  D.  S.  Jones  mas- 
ter, from  Portland  to  Lyngan  ;   123  tons,  (burnt,)  in  ballast. 

Schooner  Diadem,  Joseph  Bobbins  master,  from  Bay  St.  Chalein 
for  Harwick,  Massachusetts,  with  two  hundred  and  ninety  barrels 
mackerel. 

Schooner  D.  Ellis,  Baker  captain,  from  same  to  same,  with  two 
hundred  and  fifteen  barrels  mackerel.  These  two  vessels  were  re- 
leased. 

August  20ih,  1864. — Brig  Roan,  C.  E.  Phillips  master,  sailing  to 
Cape  Breton  Island,  ballast;   127  47-95  tons,  (burnt.) 

Burned,        -  -  -  -  -  16 

.      Scuttled,       -  -  -  -  -  10 

Bonded,        .  _  -  -  -  5 

Released,      -----  2 

Total,  -  -  -  -  33 


[Copy.] 

Richmond,  Va.,  October  19,  1864. 

Hon.  S.  R.  Mallory, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Richmond,  Va.  : 

Sir  :  On»the  6th  of  May,  1863,  I  was  detached  from  the  Confed- 
erate States  steamer  Florida,  then  off  Cape  St.  Roque,  and  ordered  to 
take  command  of  the  prize-brig  Clarence. 

Enclosed  you  will  find  my  proposition  to,  and  letter  of  instructions 
from,  Comiaander  Maffit. 


S2 

In  obedience  to  orders,  I  shaped  my  cruise  for  the  capes  of  the 
Ches;ipeake. 

Off  the  windward  islands  I  chased  several  vessels,  but  failed  to 
overhaul  them,  on  account  of  the  inferior  sailing  qualities  of  the 
Clarence. 

On  the  6th  of  Juno,  in  latitude  thirty-three  degrees  thirty-nine 
minutes,  longitude  seventy  one  degrees  twenty-nine  minutes,  west, 
fell  in  with,  captured  and"  burned,  the  barque  AVindward,  from  Phila- 
delphia to  New  Orleans,  loaded  with  coal.  She  was  insured  by  the 
United  States  Government  for  the  sum  of  fourteen  thousand  eight 
hundred  dollars. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  captured  the  schooner  Alfred  H.  Partridge, 
from  New  York  to  Matamoras,  She  was  loaded  with  arras  and 
clothing  for  our  citizens  in  Texas.  I  took  the  captain's  bond  for  the 
sum  of  five  thousand  ($5,U0(I)  dollars,  for  the  delivery  of  the  cargo 
to  loyal  citizens  of  the  Confederate  States. 

On  June  fith,  in  latitude  thirty-three  degrees  fifty-two  minutes, 
north,  longitude  seventy-four  degrees  six  minutes,  west,  captured  and 
burned  the  brig  Mary  Alvina,  from  Boston  to  New  Orleans,  loaded 
with  commissary  stores. 

From  the  prisoners  and  papers  of  transports  Windward  and  Mary 
Alvina,  I  derived  such  information  as  convinced  me  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  carry  out  the  instructions  of  Commander  Maffit.  No 
vessels  were  allowed  to  go  into  Hampton  Roads  unless  they  had  sup- 
plies for  the  United  States  Government,  and  then  they  were  closely 
watched.  The  vessels  lying  at  the  wharf  above  Fortress  Monroe 
wore  guarded  by  a  gunboat ;  and  there  were  sentries  on  the  wharf. 
Just  outside  the  fort  there  were  two  boarding  steamers. 

I  then  determined  to  cruise  along  the  coast,  and  try  to  intercept  a 
transport  for  Fortress  Monroe,  and  with  her  endeavor  to  carry  out  the 
orders  of  Commander  Maffit,  and  in  the  meantime  to  do  all  possible 
injury  to  the  enemy's  commerce. 

On  the  morning  of  the  12th  of  June,  latitude  thirty-seven  degrees, 
north,  longitude  seventy-five  degrees  thirty  minutes,  west,  captured  the 
barque  Taconey,  in  ballast,  from  Port  Royal,  South  Carolina,  to  Phil- 
adelphia. As  soon  as  we  had  possession  of  her  a  schooner  was  dis- 
covered, which  we  stood  to  incercept.  At  eight  A.  M.,  we  brought 
to  the  schooner.  She  proved  to  be  the  schooner  M.  A.  Shindler,  in 
ballast,  from  Port  Royal,  South  Carolina,  to  Philadelphia.  The 
barque  Taconey  being  a  better  sailer  than  the  Olai-ence,  1  determined 
to  burn  the  latter  vessel  and  take  the  barque.  While  the  howitzer, 
(fcc,  were  being  transferred  from  the  Clarence  to  the  Taconey,  a 
schooner  was  discovered  coming  down  before  the  wind;  passing  near 
the  Clarence,  a  wooden  gun  was  pointed  at  her,  and  she  was  com- 
manded to  heave  to,  which  she  did  immediately.  She  was  found  to 
be  the  schooner  Kate  Stewar.t,  from  Key  West  to  PhiUdelphia,  in 
ballast.  As  we  were  now  rather  short  of  provisions,  and  had  over  fifty 
prisoners,  I  determined  to  bond  the  schooner  Kate  Stewart  and  make  a 
cartel  of  her.  I  bonded  her  for  the  sum  of  seven  thousand  dollars, 
payable  to  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States,  thirty  days  after 


33 

the  ratification  of  a  treaty  of  peace  between  the  Confederate  States 
and  the  United  States.  The  brig  Clarence  and  schooner  Shindler 
were  then  set  on  fire.  We  now  stood  in  chase  of  a  brig,  whioh  we 
soon  overhauled.  She  proved  to  be  the  brig  Arabella,  of  New  York, 
from  Aspinwall  to  New  York,  with  a  neutral  cargo.  I  bonded  her 
fior  thirty  thousand  dollars^  payable  thirty  days  after  peace. 

On  June  loth,  latitude  thirty-seven  degrees  forty  minutes,  north, 
longitude  seventy  degrees  thirty-one  minutes,  west,  captured  and 
burned  the  brig  Umpire,  from  Cardenas  to  Boscon,  loaded  with  sugar 
and  molasses. 

June  2()th,  latitude  forty  degrees  fifty  minutes,  north,  longitude 
sixty-nine  degrees  twenty  minutes,  captured  the  ship  Isaac  Webb, 
from  Liverpool  to  New  York,  with  seven  hundred  and  fifty  passen- 
gers. Not  being  able  to  dispose  of  the  passengers,  I  bonded  her  for 
forty  thousand  ($10,01)0)  dollars.  On  the  same  day  burned  the  fish- 
ing schooner  Macawba. 

On  June  2 1st,  latitude  forty-one  d^rees,  north,  longitude  sixty- 
nine  degrees  ten  minutes,  west,  captured  and  burned. the  clipper-ship 
Byzantium,  from  London  to  New  York,  loaded  with  coal.  On  the 
same  day  burned  the  barque  Goodspeed,  frem  Londonderry  to  New 
York,  in  ballast. 

On  June  22d,  captured  the  fishing  schooners  Marengo,  Florence, 
E.  Ann,  R.  Choate  and  Ripple.  The  Florence  being  an  oM  vessel, 
I  bonded  her  and  placed  seventy-five  prisoners  on  her.  The  other 
schooners  were  burned. 

On  June  23d,  captured  and  burned  the  fishing  schooners  Ada  and 
Wanderer, 

On  June  2-ith,  latitude  forty-three  degrees  ten  minutes,  north, 
longitude  sixty-seven  degrees  forty-three  minutes,  west,  captured  the 
ship  Shatemuc,  from  Liverpool  to  Boston,  with  a  largo  number  cf 
emigrants.  I  bonded  her  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
(§160,000)  dollars. 

On  the  night  of  June  21th,  captured  the  fishing  schooner  Archer. 

As  there  were'now  a  number  of  the  enemy's  gunboats  in  search  of 
the  Taconey,  and  our  howitzer  ammunition  being  all  expended,  I 
concluded  to  destroy  the  Taconey,  and,  with  the  schooner  Archer,  to 
proceed  along  the  coast,  with  the  view  of  burning  the  shipping  in 
some  exposed  harbor  or  of  cutting  out  a  steamer.  Accordingly,  on 
the  morning  of  thi;  25th  of  June,  we  set  fire  to  the  Taconey,  and, 
with  the  Archer,  stooil  in  for  the  coast. 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  June,  we  made  Portland  light.  Olf 
Portland  I  picked  up  two  fishermen,  who,  taking  us  for  a  pleasure 
party,  Avillingly  consented  to  pilot  us  into  Portland.  From  the  fish- 
ermen I  learned  that  the  revenue-cutter  Caleb  Cushing  was  in  the 
harbor  of  Portland,  and  the  passenger  steamer  to  New  York — a 
staunch  swift  propeller — would  remain  in  Portland  during  the  night. 
I  at  once  determined  to  enter  the  harbor,  and  at  night  to  quietly  seize 
the  cutter  and  steamer. 

At  sunset  we  entered  the    harbor  and  anchored  in  full  view  of  the 
shipping.     I  explained  to  my  officers  what  I  expected  to  do  after  dark. 
3 


34 

My  engineer,  Mr.  Browne,  expressed  his  doubts  as  to  his  ability  to 
start  the  engines  of  the  steamer  proposed  to  be  captured  without  the 
assistance  of  another  engineer.  I  felt  confident  that  Mr.  Browne 
would  do  his  utmost  to  perform  the  duty  required  of  him,  but  as  the 
nights  were  very  short,  it  was  evident  that  if  we  failed  to  get  the 
steamer  underweigh,  after  waiting  to  get, up  steam,  we  could  not  get 
clear  of  the  forts  before  we  were  discovered. 

As  the  wind  was  blowing  moderately  out  of  the  harbor,  I  then 
decided  to  capture  the  cutter,  and,  after  getting  from  under  the  forts, 
to  return  and  fire  the  shipping. 

At  half-past  one,  A.  M.,  we  boarded  the  cutter  Caleb  Gushing  and 
captured  her  without  noise  or  resistance.  As  the  cable  could  not  be 
slipped,  it  was  two  o'clock  before  we  got  under  way.  The  wind  was 
now  very  light,  the  tide  was  running  in,  and  before  we  could  get 
from  under  the  guns  of  the  forts  day  dawned. 

At  ten,  A.  M.,  when  about  twenty  miles  off  the  harbor,  two  large 
steamers  and  three  tugs  we%  discovered  coming  out  of  Portland. 
The  cutter  was  cleared  for  action,  and  as  soon  as  the  leading  steamer 
was  in  range  we  opened  fire  upon  her.  After  firing  five  rounds  from 
the  pivot  gun,  I  was  mortified  to  find  that  all  projectiles  for  that  gun 
were  expended.  From  the  movements  of  the  enemy's  steamers  it  was 
evident  that  they  intended  to  attack  us  simultaneously,  on  each  side, 
and  endeavor  to  clear  otir  deck  with  their  sharpshooters.  It  was  plain 
that  we  could  offer  but  an  ineffectual  resistance,  and  therefore  I  directed 
the  cutter  to  be  set  on  fire  and  the  crew  to  take  to  the  boats.  At  half- 
-  past  eleven,  I  surrendered  myself  and  crew  to  the  steamer  Forest 
City.     At  twelve  o'clock  the  cutter  blew  up. 

I  have  to  express  my  entire  approbation  of  the  conduct  of  all  under 
my  command.  After  parting  company  with  the  Florida,  I  gave  the 
three  petty  officers — Billups,  Pryde,  and  Matherson — appointments 
as  master's-mates,  subject  to  your  approval.  They  are  good  seamen, 
brave  and  patriotic  men. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed,)  C."\y.  READ, 

Second  Lieittena7it,   C.  S.  Navy. 


[Copy.] 


Richmond,  Va.,  October  19,   18G4. 

To  the  Honorable  S.  R.  Mallory, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  C.  S.  A.  : 

Sir  :  I  most  respectfully  submit  the  following  report  of  the  C.  S, 
steamer  Atlanta's  movements  and  subsequent  capture. 

On  the  evening  of  June  loth,  1863,  at  six,  P.  M.,  I  got  under- 
way and  left  Thunderbolt,  Warsaw  river,  to  save  the  tide,  which 
enabled  the  ship  to  go  over  the  lower  obstructions.  At  eight,  P.  M., 
I  came  to  anchor  and  was  occupied  the  entire  night  coaling.     On 


35 

the  evening  of  the  1 6th,  about  dark,  I  proceeded  down  the  river  to 
a  point  of  land  which  would  place  me  in  five  or  six  miles  of  the 
monitors,  at  the  same  time  concealing  the  ship  from  their  view, 
ready  to  move  on  them  at  early  dawn  tke  next  morning.  At  half- 
past  three,  A.  M  ,  on  the  17th,  the  tide  then  being  a  quarter 
flood,  and  everything  favorable,  I  got  under  way  with  the  hope  of 
surprising  the  enemy.  They  male  no  move  indicating  a  .knowledge 
of  my  approach  until  I  was  within  a  mile  or  a  mile  and  a  half, 
steering  fur  them  under  full  steam.  When  we  reached  within 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  of  them  the  Atlanta  touched  the  bottom. 
I  immediately  informed  the  pilots  of  the  fact,  and  ordered  the 
engines  to  be  backed,  but  it  was  fully  fifteen  minutes  before  she 
was  in  motion,  though  the  tide  was  rising  fast.  As  soon  as  the 
ship  was  well  afloat,  I  ordered  the  engines  to  go  ahead,  with  the 
hope  of  turning  her  more  into  the  channel,  but  she  could  not  obey 
her  helra,  from  the  fact  of  the  flood-tide  being  on  her  starboard 
bow,  and  her  bottom  so  near  the  ground.  She  was  consequently 
forced  upon  the  bank  again.  During  this  time  the  United  States  monitor 
Weehawken  being  in  motion  and  making  for  us,  I  ordered  Lieutenant 
Barbot  to  open  firo  on  her,  thinking  this  would  arrest  her  course, 
and  cause  her  to  engage  at  the  distance  then  between  U3  ;  but  on 
she  came  unheeding  my  fire.  In  the  meantime  the  Atlanta  floated' 
again,  still,  however,  refusing  to  mind  her  helm,  from  the  same  cause 
as  before  stated,  and  was  thus  forced  again  on  the  bank. 

Whilst  afloat,  I  was  confident  of  success,  as  I  folt  confidence  in 
my  torpedo,  which  I  knew  would  do  its  work  to  ray  entire  satisfac- 
tion, should  I  but  be  able  to  touch  the  Weehawken,  she  then  being 
but  two  hundred  yards  oiT,  steering  for  me. 

Captain  John  Uogers  evidently  knew  the  Atlanta  was  aground,  as 
she  had  not  approoched  him  since  he  discovered  her,  and  he  held  his 
fire  up  to  this  close  range,  I  firing  when  1  could  obtain  sight  of  him. 
At  this  juncture  the  Weehawken  fired  simultaneously  her  fifteen  and 
eleven-inch  guns,  the  shot  from  the  latter  pvassing  over  me,  but 
the  shot  from  the  fifteen-inch  gun  striking  our  shield  in  a  line 
above  the  port  shutter,  nearly  abreast  the  piict-hi9use><  driving  the 
armor  through,  tearing  away  the  wood  work,  inside,  three  feet  wide 
by  the  entire  length  of  the  shield,  causing  the  solid  shot  in  the  racks 
and  everything  moveable  in  the  vicinity  to,  be  hurled  across  the  deck 
vrith  such  force  as  to  knock  down,  wound  and  disable  the  entire 
gun's  crew  of  the  port  broadside  gun  in  charge  of  Lieutenant 
Thurston,  (M.  C.,)  and  also  half  of  th,e  crew  at  Lieutenant  Barbot'a 
bow  gun,  some  thirty  men  being  injured  more  or  less. 

The  next  shot  was  from  her  elevoa-inch  gun,  which  struck  her 
knuckles,  not,  however,  breaking  the  iron,  which  is  there  but  two 
inches,  and  doing  co  damage  except  starting  the  water-ways. 

The  next  and  third  shot  striking  us  was  from  her  fifteen-inch  gun, 
and  struck  the  starboard  side  port-shutter  of  Master  Wragg's  gun  at 
a  considerable  angle,  (the  Weehawken  then  being  nearly  on  our 
quarter)  breaking  the  shutter  iu  half,  ripping  up  the  aj!m,or  and 


S6 

throwing  the  fragments  inside,  and  wounding  and  disabling,  for  a  time, 
half  of  the  gun's  crew. 

The  last  shot  fired,  was  also  a  fifteen-inch,  which  struck  the  port 
corner  of  the  pilot-house,  cutting  the  top  oif  and  starting  the  entire 
frame  to  its  foundation,  at  the  same  time  wounding  two  of  the  pilots 
very  severely. 

All  this  time  we  were  hard  and  fast  nground.  The  tide  did  not  rise 
high  enough  for  an  hour  and  a  half  to  float  the  ship,  and,  seeing  the 
effects  of  the  Weehawken's  shot  and  the  position  she  and  the  monitor 
Nahant  had  assumed  on  each  quarter  of  the  Atlanta,  where  my  guns 
could  not  be  brought  to  bear  on  them,  to  save  life  I  was  induced  to 
surrender. 

The  action  lasted  from  five  minutes  of  five  to  half-past  seven,  A. 
M.  I  could  only  fire  seven  shot,  and  my  aim  was  necessarily  very 
imperfect,  owing  to  the  want  of  lateral  motion  to  my  guns.  The 
Weehawken  fired  six  times. 

I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  officers  and  crew  under  my  com- 
mand. They  all  displayed  those  qualities  which  are  inherent  in 
brave  men,  combining  coolness  with  perfect  obedience,  though  the 
majority  of  the  crew  were  from  the  mountains  of  Georgia,  and  had 
but  a  limited  idea  of  a  ship-of-war. 

Accompanying  this  report  I  transmit  the  surgeon's  report  of 
casualties. 

Hoping  you  will  grant  me  a  court  of  inquiry,  to  inquire  into  the 
circumstances  attending  the  loss  of  the  Confederate  States  steamer 
Atlanta,  at  an  early  day, 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  jours  with  great  respect, 
(Signed,)  W.  A.  WEBB, 

Commander  Confederate  States  Navy. 


Headquarters  Confederate  States  Marine  Corps 


CONFEDERATE   OTATES   MARINE   CoRPS,  ) 

liickrnond,  Fa.,  October  30,  1864.       ) 


lion.  S.  R.  Malt.cry, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy  : 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a  return  of  the  marine 
corps,  showing  its  strength  and  disposition  on  the  3i)th  ultimo.  By 
this  return  it  will  be  seen  that  the  aggregate  strength  of  the  corps 
amounts  to  five  hundred  and  thirtj-nine.  Of  this  number,  two 
captains,  three  lieutenants,  and  sixty -two  enlisted  men,  are  prisoners 
of  war  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Not  included  in  this  return  are 
thirty-two  recruits  received  at  the  naval  station,  Charleston,  from  the 
conscript  camp  near  Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

The  marine  corps  is  distributed  at  the  following  naval  stations  : 
Mobile,  Savannah,  Charleston,  Wilmington,  and  at  Drewry's  Bluff; 
also  on  board  of  the  three  iron-clad  steamers  in  the  James  river,  and  as 
guards  at  the  Richmond  navy-yards.  Marine  guards  have  been  as- 
signed to  the  armed  steamers  Tallahassee  and  Chickamauga,  destined 
to  operate  against  the  enemy's  commerce  on  the  sea. 


37 

Since  my  last  report,  the  marines  have  been  under  the  enemy's  fira 
at  Drury's  Bluff  and  on  the  James  river,  also  in  the  land  and  naval 
engagements  near  Mobile,  on  the  5th  and  6th  of  August  last.  A 
marine  guard,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Crenshaw,  was 
attached  to  the  Confederate  steamship  Tallahassee  during  the  late 
cruise,  when  much  damage  was  inflicted  upon  the  enemy's  shipping 
at  sea. 

Upon  all  occasion;!  when  the  marines  have  been  called  upon  for 
active  service,  they  have  displayed  the  promptness  and  efficiency  of 
well  disciplined  soldiers. 

The  monthly  pay  of  the  non-commissioned  officers,  musicians  and 
privates  of  the  marine  corps  being  three  dollars  less  than  that  of  the 
infantry  of  the  army,  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  that  Congress  may  be 
asked  to  increase  the  rate  of  pay  of  marines  to  that  allowed  to  in- 
fantry. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

LLOYD  J.  BEALL, 
Colonel  commanding  Confederate  States  Murine  Curpi. 


REPORT  of  the  vessels  noiv  in  progress  of  condrndion,  hdonging  to  the 
Confederate  States  Navy  Department,  November  I,  18G4  : 

Hon.  S.  R.  Mali.ory, 

Secretary  (f  the  Navy,  Richmond,  Va.  : 

At  RicuMOM), 

An  iron-clad  steamer  has  just  been  launched,  two  hundred  and  si.t- 
tecn  feet  in  length,  to  mount  four  heavy  guns  under  a  short  citadel, 
which  is  to  be  plated  with  an  armor  si.x  inches  thick. 

The  engines  and  boilers  for  this  vessel  are  all  in  readiness,  and  of 
the  best  kind  ;  and,  from  her  fine  model,  there  is  no  doubt  Lut  she 
will  prove  an  excellent  vessel,  with  good  speed,  &c. 

7\.l30  on  the  stocks,  at  the  same  place,  an  iron-clad  ram,  with  a  short 
citadel  and  one  gun.  This  vessel  is  intended  for  light  draft,  has  four 
propellers,  two  in  each  end,  with  four  engines.  She  is  also  fitted  with 
a  ram  on  both  ends,  and  is  intended  to  move  either  way.  Her  ma- 
chinery is  being  constructed  at  the  naval  works  in  this  place  also. 

There  are  also  under  construction  four  torpedo  boats,  which  are 
well  advanced  in  their  hulls  and  machinery.  Two  of  these  boats  have 
been  recently  completed. 

The  frequent  calls  upon  the  workmen  employed  by  the  Navy  De- 
partment to  defend  the  city  against  the  Yankees,  have  greatly 
retarded  the  work  for  several  months  past,  and  which  is  still  the  case. 

At  Halifax,  North  Carolina, 

There    is    on  the   stocks,  and  well  advanced,  one  gunboat  of  light 


S3 

draft,  to  he  used  in  the  waters  of  the  sound,  and  to  mount  trro  guns 
on  pivots.  The  wood  work  of  this  vessel  will  be  finished  in  two 
months.  The  engines  are  all  in  readiness  at  the  naval  works  in  Rich- 
mond, and  are  of  sufficient  power  to  insure  great  speed;  they  were 
taken  out  of  one  of  the  Yankee  gunboats  captured  by  Commander 
Wood,  Confederate  States  navy,  on  the  Rappahannock. 

At  Edwards'  Ferry,  on  the  Roanoke, 

There  is  on  the  stocks  another  wooden  gunboat  of  lij^rht  draft,  and 
ready  for  launching,  to  mount  two  guns,  and  suitable  for  operating 
on  the  Roanoke.  The  engines  for  this  vessel  have  been  provided  for, 
and  are  nearly  ready  to  go  on  board,  and  have  only  been  prevented  by 
the  calling  of  the  workmen  in  Richmond  to  the  field,  from  the  naval 
iron  works. 

A  contract  has  also  been  entered  into  with  Messrs.  Sraith  &  Eiliott 
to  build,  at  the  same  place,  an  iron- clad  of  light  draft,  to  mount  four 
guns,  for  use  in  the  Albemarle  Sound,  &c.  The  iron  armor  for  this 
vessel  has  been  provided  for  by  the  purchase  of  railroad  iron  in  North 
Carolina,  to  be  rolled  into  gunboat  iron.  The  boilers  are  in  readiness 
at  Richmond,  and  also  a  part  of  the  machinery. 

At  Wilmington,  North  Carolina, 

There  is  being  built  rapidly  an  iron-clad  steamer  of  fine  model,  two 
bundled  acd  twentj-fix  ftet  in  length,  of  such  draft  cf  water  as  will 
enable  her  to  go  in  and  out  of  the  harbor  at  all  times. 

The  machinery  of  this  vessel  is  also  new  acd  most  of  it  ready  to  be 
put  in  the  vessel  ;  it  has  been  built  at  the  naval  works  at  Columbus, 
Georgia,  under  the  supervision  of  Chief  Engineer  J.  H.  Warner, 
Confederate  States  navy,  and  is  of  suiKcient  power  to  insure  good 
speed.  Great  interest  is  felt  in  the  completion  of  this  vessel  by  the 
Department,  as  it  is  expected  she  will  greatly  relieve  the  port  of  Wil- 
mington from  the  blockading  vessels  now  there. 

At  Pedee  River  Bridge, 

A  wooden  gunboat  has  just  been  completed  with  two  propellers; 
this  is  a  good  vessel  and  makes  nine  miles  speed  ;  her  engines  were 
built  at  the  naval  iron  works  at  Richmond,  and  are  not  of  sufficient 
power  for  greater  speed,  having  been  provided  for  a  smaller  vessel  at 
iirst,  which  circumstances  prevented  the  building  of.  She  mounts  a 
ibattery  of  five  guns,  three  of  ^shich  are  mounted  on  pivots.  Also  on 
■the  stocks,  a  small  side-wheel  steamer  intended  for  a  transport  in  tho 
Pedee  river,  fur  grain  and  other  provisions  for  the  Government  use, 
and  other  necessary  purposes.  The  machinery  of  this  vessel  has  been 
provided  for. 

There  is  also  being  built  at  this  yard  a  torpedo  boat.  This  station 
has  been  of  much  use  lately  in  filling  requisitions  for  timber  for  the 


S9 

ner  steamer  at  "VYilmingtoa,  which  has  been  supplied  from  the  yard 
at  that  place. 

At  Charleston, 

An  iron-clad  steamer  of  gool  model  and  of  sufficient  power,  is 
nearly  completed  and  will  be  ready  in  a  few  days.  She  has  a  citadel 
which  is  plated  with  an  armor  six  inches  thick  and  mounts  six  guns. 
The  engines  are  new  and  were  also  built  at  the  naval  iron  works,  at 
Columbus.     Good  speed  is  expected  from  this  vessel. 

There  are  also  two  other  first  class  steamers  at  this  place,  the  wood- 
work of  both  being  nearly  finished;  but  there  is  no  iron  availible  to 
put  their  armor  on.  The  engines  of  thei;e  vessels  are  new  and  of 
sufncient  power  to  insure  good  speed  ;  they  are  being  provided  also  at 
the  Confederate  States  naval  iron  works  at  Columbus,  and  are  in  a 
state  of  forwardness. 

These  vessels  have  short  citadels,  and  will  be  covered  with  an  armor 
of  iron  six  inches  thick,  under  which  they  will  mount  four  heavy 
guns  each.  One  of  these  vessels  has  been  launched  and  moved  out  of 
range  of  the  enemy's  shells  ;  and  the  other  is  ready  for  launching — 
propeller  and  shaft  in  place,  &c. 

At  SAVANN.'vn, 

At  Willink's  yard,  an  iron-clad  is  ready  for  launch.  This  vessel 
will  have  good  steam-power,  with  a  short  citailel,  plated  with  six  inches 
of  iron  armor,  undo-r  which  four  guns  will  be  mounted.  The  engines 
are  on  board  and  built  by  Chief  Engine3r  Warner,  also  at  the  Colum- 
bus naval  iron  works.  There  is  enough  iron  on  hand  to  enable  thera 
to  launch  the  steamer,  but  not  sufficient  to  complete  her  armor.  At 
Krenson  and  Ilawke's  yard,  another  iron-clad  is  on  the  stocks  and 
ready  for  launching.  This  vessel  will  also  have  good  steam-power, 
and  be  plated  with  armor  six  inches  thick,  and  mount  four  heavy  guns  ; 
but  there  is  no  iron  available  for  the  armor  of  these  vessels  at  present. 
A  wooden  gunboat  has  also  been  recently  completed,  mounting  six- 
guns,  on  this  station. 

At  Columbus, 

A  large  double  propeller,  light  draft,  iron-clad  steamer,  is  on  the 
stock:!  and  ready  for  launching  so  soon  as  the  river  rises.  This  vessel 
will  mount  six  guns.  The  machinery  is  all  ready  and  was  built  at 
that  place  by  Chief  Engineer  Warner,  at  the  Confederate  States  naval 
iron  works.  There  is  a  sufficiency  of  iron  on  hand  to  put  the  armor 
on  the  knuckle,  which  will  euablo  them  to  launch  but  not  enough  to 
complete  the  armor. 

The  steamer  Chattahoochee  is  also  at  this  station,  and  has  been 
thoroughly  repaired  from  the  damage  caused  by  the  explosion  of  her 
boilers.     Her  engines  have   also  been  overhauled  and  repaired,  and 


40 

two  boilers  sent  from  Wilmington,  which  were  saved  from  the  wreck 
of  the  Raleigh,  to  complete  her,  as  those  which  exploded  were  en- 
tirely destroyed.  It  is  expected  that  this  vessel  will  soon  be  put  in 
commission  again. 

There  is  al:«o  building  at  this  station  a  torpedo-boat  which,  with  the 
engines,  &c  ,  are  in  a  state  of  gieat  forwardness,  and  can  soon  be 
finished. 

At  MoniLE, 

The  large  iron-clad,  side-wheel  steamer,  built  under  contract  by 
Messrs.  jNIontgomcry  k  Anderson,  has  not  been  completed  for  want 
of  iron  armor.  There  are  also  at  this  place,  two  light  draft  double 
propeller  iron-clad  steamers,  to  mount  four  guns  each,  which  were 
built  under  contract  with  Messrs.  Porter  &  Watson,  on  the  Tombig- 
bee  river  ;  but  the  iron  armor  to  complete  these  vessels  is  not  at  present 
available.  Iheir  machinery  is  being  provided  for  at  the  Columbus 
naval  iron  works.  On  the  Tcmbigbee  another  large  size  iron  clad 
is  in  progress,  for  which  an  engine  has  been  provided  ;  but  the  armor 
is  wanting. 

It  will  be  seen  that  everything  has  been  done  to  get  up  an  iron-clad 
fleet  of  vessels  which  could  po&sibly  be  done  under  the  circumstances  ; 
but,  in  onsequence  of  the  loss  of  our  iron  and  coal  regions,  with  the 
rolling  mill  at  Atlanta,  our  supply  of  iron  has  been  very  limited. 
The  mills  at  Richmond  are  capable  of  rolling  any  quantity  ;  but  the 
material  is  not  on  hand,  and  the  amount  now  necessary  to  complete 
vessels  already  built  would  be  equal  to  four  thousand  two  hundred  and 
thirty-tons,  as  follows  : 


At  Richmond, 

for  two  vessels. 

575 

tong 

Wilmington 

,  for 

one  vessel, 

one 

inch 

pla 

te, 

1 50 

Charleston, 

<< 

two 

800 

Savannah, 

ti 

two 

750 

Columbus, 

(I 

one 

280 

Mobile, 

a 

three 

1,250 

On 

the  Tombig 
Total, 

bee, 

one 

425 

4,230 

tons 

With  much  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  L.  PORTER, 
Chief  Covstrvctor,  C.   S.    N. 


41 


Office  of  Orders  and  Df,tail,  ^ 

C.    S.  Nnvj;  Drpuitmmt,       > 

EichmoDd,  October   2 1st,  18G4.    ) 

Hon.  S.  R.  Mallory, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy  : 

Sir:  In  obedience  to  your  instructions  of  the  17th  instant,  I  have 
the  honor  to  submit  the  following,  to  accompany  the  estimates  for  all 
objects  coming  under  the  cognizance  of  this  office,  for  six  months, 
from  the  first  of  January,  next. 

Owing  tj  tho  various  causes,  stated  in  former  reports  from  this 
office,  and  which  are  too  obvious  to  require  recapitulation  in  this,  the 
materials  for  efficiently  manning  the  ves|el9  of  the  navy,  and  for  ne- 
cessary work  in  laboratories,  workshops,  ka,,  is  found  to  be  inade- 
quate to  supply  the  pressing  wants  of  the  service. 

The  number  of  experienced  seamen  to  be  found  in  the  South  was 
small  before  the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  and  thej  have 
been  almost  entirely  absorbed  by  the  conscript  law  of  February  17, 
1864,  placing  in  the  military  service  all  white  men,  residents  of  the 
Confederacy,  between  the  ages  of  seventeen  and  fifty.  Although 
the  law  of  May  1,  1863,  provides  for  the  transfer  of  all  seamen  and 
ordinary  seamen  from  tho  array  to  the  navy,  yet,  in  practice,  this 
law,  until  recently,  has  been  disregarded  entirely.  The  only  favora- 
ble response  thit  has  been  made  to  the  numerous  calls  made  on  the 
army  for  men  under  this  law,  was  by  virtue  of  an  order  from  the  War 
Department,  dated  22nd  jNIarch,  18G4,  which  directed  the  transfer 
from  the  army  to  the  navy  of  twelve  hundred  (121)0)  men;  under 
which  order  nine  hundred  and  sixty  men  were  received  from  all  tho 
armies  of  the  Confederacy  on  this  side  of  the  Mississippi  river. 

The  right  of  election,  given  by  law  of  October  2,  1862,  to  all  per- 
sons who  have  been  or  are  about  to  be  enrolled,  at  any  time  before 
being  assigned  to  any  company,  who  shall  prefer  entering  the  navy  or 
marine  corps,  to  be  so  enlisted,  haa  availed  but  little  ;  and,  notwith- 
standing naval  officers  were  sent  by  this  Department  to  the  different 
conscript  camps  to  facilitate  the  recruiting  under  this  law,  a  favorable 
result  could  not  be  obtained  ;  and  hence  the  recruiting  for  the  navy 
has  been  barely  sufficient  to  supply  the  deficiences  occasioned  by 
deaths,  discharges  and  desertions.  Camp  Holmes,  North  Carolina, 
continues  to  g\ve  the  largest  number  of  recruits,  six  hundred  and 
thirteen  (61S)  having  been  enlisted  therefrom  January  lat  to  October 
3t)th,  18G4, 

The  whole  numoer  of  enlisted  men  now  in  the  navy  is  three  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  seventy-four.  • 

Owing  to  the  incursions  of  the  enemy  at  points  in  the  Confederacy 
contiguous  to  some  of  the  coal  mines,  some  difficulty  has  been  encoun- 
tered in  procuring  supplies  of  coal  adequate  to  the  demands  of  the 
service  ;  sufficient  quantities,  however,  have  been  obtained  to  supply 
current  wants. 

The  navy  now  draws  its  supplies  from  three  points,  viz  :  The  mines 


42 

in  the  vicinity  of  Richmon<l ;  the  Egypt  mines,  in  North  Carolina ; 
and  the  mines  near  Montevallo,  Alabama.  The  supplies  of  coal  ob- 
tained from  the  first  named  are  ample  for  consumption  at  Richmond, 
and  the  naval  works  at  Charlotte,  North  Carolina  ;  the  second,  could, 
in  addition  to  Wilmington,  supply  what  is  required  at  both  Charles- 
ton and  Savannah.  The  third  supplies  Mobile  and  the  naval  works  at 
Columbus  and  Augusta,  Georgia, 

Several  months  supply  of  coal  have  been  accumulated  at  Richmond 
and  Wilmington  ;  but  a  deficiency  of  transportation  only  allows  at 
other  points  the  quantities  sufficient  for  immediate  wants.  At 
Charleston  and  Savannah  wood  has  been  used,  when  coal  was  scarce, 
with  great  economy. 

The  naval  rope  works,  at  Petersburg,  erected  to  manufacture  cor- 
dage fur  the  use  of  the  navj^  Ijave  proven  adequate,  not  only  to  sup- 
ply it,  but  to  meet  large  requisitions  from  different  branches  of  the 
array — theccal  mines  and  railroad  and  canal  companies.  The  recent 
quarterly  report  of  the  officer  in  charge  shows  that  the  works 
have  paid  all  expenses,  and  have  yielded  a  considerable  nett 
profit. 

Experiments  made  in  the  use  of  tar  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
rope,  at  this  establishment,  have  been  successful,  and  must  greatly 
enhance  its  value  as  a  substitute  for  hemp  cordage,  now  that  it  can- 
not be  obtained  in  sufficient  quantities  for  public  use.  These  works, 
under  the  judicious  management  of  naval  officers  assigned  to  superin- 
tend them,  have  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  public  inter- 
ests. 

The  amount  of  rope  manufactured  from  April  1,  1863,  to  Septem- 
ber 30,  1864,  is  one  hundred  and  eixty-three  thousand  six  hundred 
and  sixty-five  (163,665)  pounds. 

Delivered  to  the  army,  50,212  pounds. 

Delivered  to  the  navy,  84,259       " 

To  other  parties,  21,893        " 

On  hand,  7,306       ** 

The  amount  of  money  expended  at  these  works  to  September  SO, 
1864,  is  two  hundred  and  eighty -three  thousand  three  hundred  and 
thirteen  dollars  and  eighteen  cents,  ($283,313    18.) 

The  receipts  amount  to  two  hundred  and  ninety-three  thousand, 
nine  hundred  and  sixty-three  (^293,963  69)  dollars  and  sixty-seven 
cents.  Debts  yet  unpaid  amount  to  five  thousand  ($5,000)  dollars. 
Leaving  a  nett  balance  of  five  thousand  six  hundred  and  fifty 
($5,650  49)  dollars  and  forty-nine  cents,  besides  supplying  cordage 
to  the  navy  free  of  cost. 

During  my*  connection  with  this  office,  I  have  experienced  some 
difficulty  and  confusion  in  the  administration  of  its  affairs,  growing 
out  of  the  two  distinct  organizations  of  the  navy.  The  classification 
of  officers  under  the  heads  of  regular  and  provisional  navies,  whose 
duties  are  confined  strictly  to  their  respective  spheres,  has  operated, 
I  think,  prejudicially  to  the  service. 

The   policy  of  the  law  creating  the   provisional  navy,  preventing 


officer*  of  the  regular  navy  from  serving  afloat,  unless  transferred  to 
the  former  by  appointment,  has  militated,  in  some  instances,  against 
the  prompt  assignment  of  officers  to  vacant  positions,  for  the  reason 
that  the  number,  eligible  to  duty  afloat,  was  insufficient  to  meet  the 
demands  of  the  service,  and  those  attached  to  the  regular  navy,  were 
not  available  without  violating  the  spirit  of  the  law  creating  the  new 
branch  of  the  service.  I  therefore  respectfully  suggest  whether  it 
would  not  be  well  to  transfer  the  entire  personnel  of  the  navy  to  the 
provisional  organization,  which,  if  accomplished,  I  feel  assured  would 
obviate  the  embarrassment  I  have  mentioned,  and  add  to  the  unity 
of  purpose  and  vigor  of  action  so  essential  at  a  juncture  like  this. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  S.  LEE, 
Captain  in  charge. 


C.  S.  Navv  Department,  ^ 

Office  of  Ordnance  and  Hydrography.       > 
Richmond,  November  4th,  1564.  ) 

Hon.  S.  R.  Mallorv, 

Secretary  of  the  Nnvy  .' 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  oper- 
ations of  this  office  since  the  26th  April,  1864,  the  date  of  my  last 
report : 

Early  in  June,  in  consequence  of  the  threatening  attitude  of  the 
enemy  before  Atlanta,  and  in  accordance  with  the  suggestions  of  the 
military  authorities,  Lieutenant  D.  P.  McCorkle,  in  charge  of  the 
ordnance  works  at  that  place,  commenced  moving  stores  and  machinery 
toAugusta,  and  succeeded  in  transferring  safely  all  the  machinery, 
engines,  boilers,  and  the  greater  portions  of  the  stores,  prior  to  the 
evacuation  of  the  city. 

Immediate  steps  were  taken  by  him  to  commence,  with  the  force  at 
his  command,  the  manufacture  of  ordnance  stores  at  Augusta.  Va- 
rious causes,  incidental  to  the  disturbed  condition  of  that  portion  of 
the  country,  have  combined  to  retard  the  progress  of  the  work. 
Buildings  of  a  temporary  character,  necessary  for  foumlry  and  other 
purposes,  are  being  erected,  and,  when  completed,  the  manufacture  of 
shot,  shells,  gun-carriages,  etc.,  will  be  carried  on  as  at  Atlanta. 
The  interruption  caused  by  the  removal  of  the  ordnance  works  from 
Atlanta  to  Augusta,  has  been  productive  of  inconvenience,  as  upon 
that  establishment  wc  were  largely  dependent  for  ordnance  equip- 
ments of  vessels  at  Charleston,  Savannah  and  Mobile.  Lentil  the 
works  at  Augusta  are  put  in  operation,  the  supplies  for  those  points 
will  be  drawn  from  Charlotte,  Selma  and  Richmond. 

Great  credit  is  due  to  Lieutenant  McCorkle,  for  the  successful  re- 
moval of  this  machinery,  etc.,  from  Atlanta  to  Augusta,  and  for  the 
energy  he  now  exhibits  in  re-establishing  the  works. 

As  stated  in  my  former  report,  the  force  at  the  Selma  works,  under 


44 

tlie  superintendence  of  Commander  Catesby  Ap.  R.  Jones,  inadequate 
ti  carry  on  tlie  various  branches  of  that  establishment,  has  bee^i  era- 
ployed  chiefly  in  the  manufacture  of  guns,  specially  adapted  for  ser- 
vice against  iron-clads. 

roity-?even  guns  of  this  character  hare  been  supplied  for  the  do- 
fence  of  Mobile,  and,  with  the  exception  of  two  lost  with  Fort  Mor- 
gan, but  which  inflicted  serious  damage  upon  the  enemy,  and  eight 
captured  in  the  Confederate  States  steamers  Tennessee  and  Gaines,  in 
the  unequal  contest  of  August  oth,  with  the  enemy's  fleet,  are  now 
in  position  on  shore  and. afloat.  In  addition  to  these,  twelve  guns  of 
the  same  kind  have  l)een  sent  to  other  points,  including  Charleston 
and  Wilmington,  chiefly  for  land  batteries,  and  there  are  now  several 
on  hand,  which  will  be  put  in  service  in  a  few  days. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  comparatively  small  number  of  me- 
chanics required  to  render  the  machinery  and  facilities  afforded  by 
this  important  establishment  fully  available  could  not  be  obtained. 
Repeated  applications  for  details  of  mechanics  from  tiie  array  have 
been  made  ;  but,  as  the  services  of  the  men  were  generally  considered 
more  important  in  the  field  than  in  the  workshop,  and  the  details 
were  therefore  disapproved  by  commanding  Generals,  very  few  have 
been  granted.  In  consequence  of  the  want  of  force,  no  projectiles 
have  been  cast  for  several  months  at  the  Selma  establishment,  and 
this  is  novr  severely  felt,  as,  owing  to  the  constant  interruption  of 
ordnance  work  in  Richmond,  the  employees  having  been  in  the  field 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer,  the  suspension  of  work  at  Atlanta, 
and  the  difficulty  of  procuring  iron  of  proper  quality  at  Charlotte, 
the  supply  of  projectiles  on  hand  is  inadequate  to  fully  meet  the  wants 
of  the  service,  particularly  as  the  ammunition  for  naval  rifles  in  bat- 
tery on  shore,  for  the  defence  of  important  points,  has  been  chiefly 
supplied  by  this  oflSce.  Efforts  have  been  made  to  obtain  foreign  me- 
chanics; but  difl!icultics,  incidental  to  entering  the  Confederacy  from 
abroad,  have  hitherto  prevented  the  accomplishment  of  this  desirable 
object.  Commander  Jones  has  made  every  eff'ort  to  increase  the  eCR- 
ciency  of  the  works,  and,  although  in  consequence  of  the  want  of 
assistants,  his  labors  have  been  unusually  arduous  and  trying,  he  has 
rendered  service  ofjwhich  the  importance  can  hardly  be  overestimated. 

The  naval  ordnance  works  at  Charlotte,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Chief  Engineer  Ramsay,  have  been  in  active  operation,  with  ex- 
cellent results.  This  establishment  is  the  only  one  in  the  Confederacy 
at  which  heavy  forging  can  be  done.  Shafting  for  steamers  and 
■wrought  iron  projectiles  are  forged  and  finished.  Gun-carriages, 
blocks,  and  ordnance  equipments  of  nearly  every  description,  includ- 
ing the  productions  of  an  ordnance  laboratory,  are  supplied  to  the 
service.  Less  interruption  from  the  movements  of  the  enemy  has 
been  experienced  at  Charlotte  than  at  any  other  of  the  naval  ordnance 
establishments.  Its  position  is  favorable  in  this  respect,. and,  being 
central,  its  lines  of  communication  with  other  important  points  are 
convenient.  The  iron  produced  at  the  furnaces  from  which  it  is  sup- 
plied, is  gradually  being  improved   in   quality,  and  proposed  altera- 


45 

tions  in  tlic  mode  of  treatment  will  probably  §oon  make  it  available 
for  shafts. 

The  growing  importance  of  this  establishment  renders  it  expedient 
to  add  by  lease  or  otherwise  to  the  ground  originally  purchased  and 
now  occupied  by  the  works,  which  are  much  cramped  for  want  of 
room,  several  lots  adjoining.  Chief  Engineer  Ramsay  has  been 
int>tructed  to  report-fully  upon  this  poiur. 

Urgent  applications  have  been  received  from  Generals  commanding 
at  Mobile  and  Wilmington  for  wrought  iron  projectiles,  and  it  is  to 
be  regretted  that  we  have  not,  at  other  establishments,  machinery 
adapted  to  their  laanufacture. 

It  has  long  been  considered  important,  that  the  manufacture  of 
steel  projectiles,  Avhich  are  undoubtedly  superior  to  those  of  wrought 
iron,  should  be  carried  on  in  the  Confederacy,  or  that  at  least  some 
of  the  processes  employed  abroad  in  the  proiluction  cf  initerial  bet- 
ter suited  than  simple  cast  er  wrought  iron  for  shot  and  shell  to  be 
employed  against  iron-clads,  should  be  adopted,  but,  with  the  limited 
amount  of  skilled  labor  at  command,  insufficient  to  supply  the  current 
demand  for  the  ordinary  munitions  of  war,  it  has  not  been  possible  to 
do  so. 

At  the  naval  ordnance  works  at  Richmond,  under  the  charge  of 
Lieutenant  R.  D.  Minor,  and,  during  his  temporary  absence  in  the 
James  river  squadron,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  R  B.  Wright, 
much  important  work  has  been  executed.  I^early  all  the  equipments 
of  the  vessels  in  James  river  and  at  Wilmington  have  been  supplied 
from  these  works,  and,  in  addition,  the  equipments,  including  car- 
riages and  ammunition  for  several  heavy  navy  guns  in  battery  on  shore. 

The  employees  of  this  establishment  enrolled  in  the  naval  battalion, 
have,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  skillful  mechanics  whose  services 
were  indispensable  to  prepare  ammunition  for  immediate  use,  been  in 
the  field  during  the  greater  part  of  the  summer. 

The  naval  powder  mills  at  Columbia,  under  the  superintendence  of 
Mr.  P.  B.  Gareschi,  have  supplied  the  wants  of  the  service.  The  pow- 
der there  manufactured  is  of  excellent  quality,  and  the  operations  of 
the  works  are  conducted  in  the  most  satisfactory  manner. 

The  system  of  instruction  and  discipline  adopted  in  the  naval  school, 
under  the  superintendence  of  Lieutenant  Vhn.  II.  Parker,  has  proved 
of  great  benefit  to  the  service.  As  the  efficiency  and  tone  of  the  Con- 
federate navy  will  hereafter  depend  chiefl}'-  upon  the  early  training  of 
its  officers,  it  is  most  important  that  this  establishment  should  be  care- 
fully fostered. 

It  is  recommended  that,  after  the  December  examination,  the  second 
and  third  classes  (now  the  third  and  fourth)  be  ordered  on  active  duty, 
retaining  on  board  the  school  ship  Patrick  Henry  the  first  (now  the 
s.'cond)  and  fourth  classes — those  who  may  report  prior  to  the  exam- 
iaatiou  to  compose  the  latter  class — this  would  give  about  sixty  mid- 
shipmen to  the  school,  leaving  about  twenty-four  on  active  duty.  A 
more  equal  division  cannot  be  made,  unless  one  of  the  classes  be 
divided,  which  would  be  objectionable. 

Estimates  for  ordnance  and  ordnance  Btores  for  six   months,  from 


46 

the  1st  of  January  nest,  were  submitted  to  tlie  Department  on  the 
13th  ultimo. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  BROOKE, 
Commander  iyi  Ckarp^e. 


Confederate  States  Navy  Department,  \ 

Office  Medicine  aiid  Surgery,  > 

Richmond,  Va.,  November  1,  ISG4.  ) 

lion.  S.  R.  Mallory, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  RicJimond,  Va.  : 

Sir  :  I  respectfully  submit,  for  your  consideration,  the  following 
report  of  the  condition  of  the  medical  department  of  the  Confederate 
States  navy : 

Since  my  last  report,  on  the  30th  of  November,  1863,  the  corps  of 
surgeons  has  been  reduced  from  the  original  number  (twenty-three) 
to  twenty-two,  by  the  death  of  Surgeon  D.  S.  Green,  a  circumstance 
much  to  be  regretted,  as  he  was  an  officer  of  high  moral  worth,  great 
professional  ability,  and  always  zealous  in  the  strict  performance  of 
his  duti33,  and  to  whom  high  merit  was  awarded  when  he  held  a  posi- 
tion in  the  United  States  navy.  All  of  this  grade  have  been  contin- 
ually on  duty  at  the  naval  stations,  in  hospitals,  vessels  and  rendez- 
vous in  the  Confederacy  ;  two  have  been  on  duty  abroad.  One  of  them 
has  lately  returned,  and  is  now  on  duty  in  a  battery  on  James  river, 
and  one  detached  from  tlie  IMobile  station  on  sick  leave.  The  number 
now  on  duty  is  not  at  all  adequate  to  the  wants  of  the  medical  depart- 
ment, there  being  several  places  where  the  services  of  surgeons  are 
necessai-y,  particularly  in  the  fleet  off  "Mobile,  where,  besides  Fleet- 
Surgeon  Conrad,  there  is  no  other  surgeon,  now  that  Dr.  Garnett  is 
on  sick  leave  ;  and  it  is  deemed  necessary  that  there  should  be  another 
to  assist  in  directing  and  controlling  the  aifairs  of  the  medical  depart- 
ment, now  mostly  under  the  charge  of  newly  appointed  assistant  sur- 
geons. I  would,  therefore,  respectfully  suggest  the  increase  of  this 
corps  to  at  least  twenty-eight  or  thirty. 

The  number  of  passed  assistant  surgeons  has  not  reached  the  maxi- 
mum allowed  by  Congress,  (fifteen,)  as  the  period  of  the  examination 
of  assistants  for  promotion  has  not  Arrived  but  for  a  fevf .  These  officers 
have  all  been  on  duty  since  the  time  of  their  appointments,  except 
one,  (Dr.  Christian,)  who,  afflicted  with  consumption,  has  been  on 
sick  leave  for  several  months,  with,  I  fear,  but  little  prospect  of  re- 
covery. Five  are  still  on  foreign  service,  one  at  sea  in  the  Florida, 
five  on  duty  in  the  Confederacy,  making,  in  all,  twelve  who  are 
registered. 

The  number  of  assistant  surgeons  permanently  appointed  is  twenty- 
seven,  added  to  the  twenty-seven  appointed  for  the  war,  makes  an 
s^ggregate  cf  fifty-four,  leaving  but  three  to  fill  up  the  quota  allowed 


47 

for  the  war,  by  an  act  of  Congress.  All  of  this  class  of  officers  have 
been  continually  employed,  and,  from  information  received,  it  affords 
me  pleasure  to  report  favorably  as  to  their  efficiency  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties,  evincing  a  competency  not  to  be  expected  from  inex- 
perienced young  men,  just  commencing  their  professional  career. 
With  regard  to  the  increase  of  this  corps,  to  meet  any  future  exigen- 
cies of  the  service,  it  devolves  on  the  Navy  Department  to  determine 
as  to  the  necessity  of  such  a  step.  The  number  already  on  duty,  and 
those  passed  and  -waiting  for  appointments,  I  deem  sufficient  to  meet 
all  the  present  wants  of  the  medical  department. 

From  the  reports  of  medical  officers  on  all  the  stations,  particularly 
from  those  in  the  southern  department,  there  has  been  much  sickness 
of  a  severe  character,  particularly,at  Savannah  and  Charleston.  At 
Savannah  the  fevers  have  been  marked  ■with  unusual  severity  on 
board  of  vessels  that,  from  the  nature  of  the  duty,  had  their  crews 
necessarily  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  malaria  of  the  fresh  water 
rivers,  and  swamps  bordering  the  rice  fields  ;  but  a  change  of  locality, 
lately  made,  has  lessened  their  severity. 

Although  it  is  reported  that  yellow  fever  prevails  at  Charleston,  no 
official  returns  have  been  made  to  me  of  its  existence  on  board  of  ships 
or  in  the  hospital  on  that  station.  The  only  fevers  prevailing  have 
been  those  incident  to  the  climate  every  summer  and  fall,  and 
always  of  a  continual  and  remitting  character. 

On  the  James  river  station  the  amount  of  sickness  has  been  far 
greater  than  that  which  prevailed  during  the  summer  and  fill  months 
of  1SG3 — occurring  no  doubt  from  the  protracted  dry  spell  of  weather, 
causing  the  river  to  fall  lower  than  ever,  and  thus  generating  a  greater 
amount  of  malaria,  manifesting  the  intensity  of  its  poisonous  effects, 
by  the  severity,  in  all  the  cases  of  fever  and  dysentery  sent  to  the 
naval  hospital,  where,  away  from  the  influence  of  the  exciting  cause, 
a  speedy  recovery  ensued ;  but  very  soon  after  their  return  to  duty  in 
the  fleet,  relapses  invariably  occurred,  showing  conclusively  where 
the  cause  existed.  These  attacks  of  fevers  will,  of  course,  always 
recur  on  this  and  other  stations,  in  proportion  to  the  existence  of 
the  cause,  and  the  intensity  of  its  effects,  and  there  are  no  means  of 
prevention,  as  t©  its  general  operation,  except  through  the  medium  of 
strict  attention,  on  the  part  of  officers,  to  the  comfort  of  the  crews, 
in  regard  to  clothing,  food,  and  a  regimen,  that  will  strengthen  and 
fortify  the  system  against  attacks.  I  would  therefore  suggest  the 
issuing  of  a  spirit  ration  and  allowing  to  the  crews  their  breakfast 
with  hot  coffee,  at  an  early  hour  every  morning,  before  proceeding  to 
scouring  the  decks,  as  a  means  of  counteracting  the  effects  of  the 
damp  and  chilling  draughts,  so  prevalent  on  all  fresh  water  courses  and 
malarial  regions  at  the  dawn  of  day. 

It  affords  me  much  satisfaction  to  report  that,  by  the  operations  of 
the  purveyor's  department,  an  ample  supyly  of  medicines,  instruments 
and  every  thing  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  sick  has  been  furnished  up 
to  the  present  time,  but  owing  to  the  strict  blockade  of  the  sea-coast 
and  harbors  of  the  Confederacy,  rendering  it  impossible  now  to  procure 
medical  supplies  from  abroad,  I  fear  that  there  will  necessarily  bo 


43 


much  difficulty  in  procuring  many  valuable  articles  soon  required  for 
the  use  of  the  sick.  Every  effort  has  been  made  to  procure  a  large 
supply,  but  in  vain  ;  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  ^^upply  of  cot- 
ton placed  in  the  hands  of  the  navy  agent  at  the  port  cf  Wilmington 
cannot  be  sent  to  Bermuda  to  purchase  more,  or  to  pay  for  the  medi- 
cines that  have  been  received.  To  provide  as  f\ir  as  possible  for 
future  wants,  I  have  directed  the  purchase  of  medicines  on  all  the 
stations,  without  trusting  to  the  probable  chances  of  procuring  them 
from  abroad. 

All  the  hospitals  have  been  well  provided  with  clean  and  coraforta- 
ble  bedding,  blankets,  furniture,  crockery,  &c.,  for  the  comfort  of  the 
sick,  at  a  very  moderate  expense,  by  taking  advantage  of  auction  sales, 
where  articles  were  procured  at  "the  rates  of  two  hundred  per  cent, 
less  than  they  could  have  been  bought  in  the  wholesale  establish- 
ments in  this  city,  and  by  the  employment  of  an  upholsterer  in  the 
purveyor's  department  to  remodel  and  renovate  beds,  much  expense 
has  been  saved. 

I  cannot  conclude  this  report  without  calling  the  attention  of  the 
department  to  the  great  necessity  for  the  retention  of  the  three  em- 
ployees detailed  for  duty  in  this  establishment;  they  are  all  good 
apothecaries  and  chemists,  and  their  position  is  no  sinecure,  since 
they  are  constantly  employed  in  the  various  operations  of  this  de- 
partment, in  manufacturing,  receiving,  packing,  and  issuing  medi- 
cines ;  and  although  one  of  them  is  dispatched  twice  a  month  with 
supplies  to  stations  south,  I  have  frequently  to  employ  others  for  the 
same  purpose,  to  comply  with  requisitions  from  small  places  between 
this  city  and  Mobile,  showing  that  the  number  employed  is  scarcely 
sufficient  to  perform  the  necessary  work.  Crippled  soldiers  and  men 
exempt  by  reason  of  ill-health,  and  not  experts,  would  not  answer 
the  purposes  of  the  purveyor's  department,  since  they  would  be  in- 
competent to  the  discharge  of  the  dutes  required  in  the  transporta- 
tion find  selection  of  proper  and  pure  medicines,  ordered  to  be 
purchased  from  time  to  time. 

In  conclusion,  I  will  refer  you  to  a  tabular  form  showing  the  ag- 
gregate number  of  sick  admitted  and  discharged  at  the  hospitals  for 
each  quarter  of  the  year,  and  the  average  cost  per  cfay  for  each  man. 
Also,  one  showing  the  cost  for  all  medical  supplies  received,  thos-3 
issued,  and  the  value  of  what  remains  on  hand. 

Trusting,  then,  sir,  that  this  report  will  be  satisf^ictory, 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  A.  W.  SPOTSWOOD, 

Surgeon  in  charge. 


49 


ABSTRACT  from  the  quarterly  reports  of  sick  at  the  hospitals  on  the 
different  Stations,  showing  the  number  of  men  treated,  discharged  and 
died,  and  the  average  cost  per  man,  including  all  expenses,  from  the  1st 
of  October,  1863,  to  the  \st  of  October,  18G4  : 


Stations. 


Admitted.  1  Discbarirod.  i  Died. 


Average  daily  cost  per  man. 


Richmond  Station — Naval', 
jffonpi'il. 

Fourth  qviartet.  1803, ' 

First  quarter,  1864 ' 

74     1 
114      j 

464     1 

50 

77 

131 

337 

Second  (ju  irtcr,  1864 

Third  quarter,  1864 

Total 

842     1 

645 

13 


21 


$3  64 


Charleston  Station — Naval 
Hoxpit(tl. 

Fourth  quarter,  1863, 

First  quarter,  1864 

66 
41 
48 
92 

46 
24 
31 
53 

1 
1 

16 

$5  82 

Second  ([uarter,  1864 

Third  quarter.  1S64 

TotiU 

247 

154 

18 

Wilminijton     Station — Xa-. 
val  JJonjiital. 

Second  quarter,  1864 

Third  quarter,  1864 i 


70 


43 
47 


Total. 


136 


^0 


$i   f)6 


Savannah    Station- 

Hogpitol. 
Fourtli  quarter.  1863. 
First  quarter,  1864.... 
Beconcl  quarter,  1864. 
Third  quarter,  1864.., 


■Naval 


71 

58 

89 

176 


45  I       4 

31  2 

68  2 

136  7 


JS2  85 


Total. 


394 


270 


15 


Ko  bile     Station 

Hospital 
Fourth  quarter,  1863 
Fir.^t  qufutcr,  1861... 
Second  quarter,  1864. 
Third  quarter,  1864... 


Naval 


Total. 


98 

79 

73 

122 


372 


63 
54 
50 
84 


.'?2  12  i 


251 


12 


S.  Navy  Detartmext,  Office  Mf.dicine  and  Surgery, 
Richmond,  November  1,  1864. 


W.  A.  W.  SPOTSWOOD, 

Surgeon  in  charge. 


50 


Medical  Purvkvor's  Department,      ^ 
Confederate  States  Navy,  \ 

Richmond,  November  Ist,  1864.  ) 

THE  ANNUAL  REPORT  of  Receipts  and  Expenditures-of  medicines^ 
medical  stores,  surgical,  instruments  and  appliances,  hospital  stores  and 
furniture,  in  the  aggregate,  from  October,  1863,  to  October,  1861. 

Amount  remaining  on  hand  at  last  report,  $36,339   11 

Amount  received  during  this  period,  271,341  88 


$307,680  99 


The  aggregate  amount  of  issues  to  the  several  stations, 
from  October,  1863,  to  October,  1864,  is  as  follows: 
Richmond  station,  $42,782  49 

Wilmington  station,  21,542  23 

Charleston,  S.  C,  station,  15,367  04 

Savannah,  Ga.,  station,  21,818   18 

Florida  station,  1,216   70 

Selma,  Ala.,  station,  1,987   13 

Mobile,  Ala.,  station,  29,178  81 

$133,892  58 


Balance  remaining  on  hand,  October,  1864,  $173,788  41 

N.  B. — This  embraces  all  vessels  afloat,  at  all  the  stations,  includ- 
ing vessels  on  the  small  rivers  in  the  different  parts  of  the  Confede- 
racy. 

W.  A.  W.  SPOTSWOOD, 

Surgeon  in  charge. 


Office  of  Provision  and  Clothing,  ^ 

C.  S.  Navy  Department,  > 

Richmond,  Ya.,  October  18th,  1864.  ) 

Hon,  S.  R.  Mallory, 

Secretary  C.  S.  Navy,  Richmond,  Va.  : 

Sir  :  Since  the  date  of  my  last  report  to  you,  relative  to  the  provis- 
ions on  hand,  I  have  now  to  inform  you  I  have  in  the  store-house  at 
Rocketts  a  supply  of  bread  and  flour  for  eight  months,  beef  and  pork 
six  months,  rice  and  beans  six  months,  sugar  and  molasses  five 
months,  and  tea  and  cofl'ee  for  eight  menths  from  the  first  of  Novem- 
ber next.  There  is  also  in  transit  to  this  city,  three  hundred  barrels 
of  flour,  and  two  hundred  in  the  mills  of  the  city,  and  a  short  distance 
from  it.     The  commissary  department  is  indebted  for  wheat  loaned  it. 


51 

equal  to  six  liun<lred  ami  twenty  barrels  flour.  The  supply  on  hand 
is  sufficient  to  last  until  a  new  crop  of  wheat  is  made.  I  learn  that 
there  is  very  nearly  a  six  months'  supply  of  bread  and  meat  and  the 
other  principal  parts  of  the  ration  on  hand  at  the  naval  station,  Mo- 
bile, Ala.,  and  four  months'  supply  at  the  naval  station,  Savannah, 
Ga.  At  Charleston,  S.  C,  there  is  nearly  sixty  days'  supply,  and 
the  same  amount  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.  The  navy  agent  at  Augusta, 
Ga..  however,  has  a  sufficient  amount  of  stores  on  hand  to  increase 
the  supply  at  these  stations  to  make  an  average  of  four  months  each. 
At  the  general  store-house,  at  Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  there  was 
on  hand,  on  the  1st  of  September,  seven  hundred  barrels  of  beef  and 
pork,  and  since  that  time  there  has  been  received  at  Charleston  and 
VVilmington,  six  hundred  barrels  more,  which  Avere  directed  to  be 
forwarded  to  Charlotte,  N.  C.  There  is  also,  in  the  general  store- 
house, one  hundred  thousand  pounds  of  coffee,  thirty  thousand  pounds 
of  sugar,  and  one  thousand  pounds  of  tea,  with  fifty  barrels  of  beans 
and  other  component  parts  of  the  ration.  There  is  also,  in  the  store- 
house at  Albany,  Ga  ,  over  eight  hundred  barrels  of  beef.  I  am 
informed  that  the  flouring  mill  and  bakery  recently  established  by 
you  at  that  point,  arc  in  successful  operation  ;  the  latter  turning  out 
some  five  to  six  thousand  pounds  of  hard  bread  daily,  which  can  be 
increased  by  skillful  workmen  to  probably  eight  thousand  pounds  per 
day,  which  will  be  sufficient  for  the  navy. 

Since  my  last  report  to  you,  an  arrangement  has  been  entered  into 
with  the  Commissary  General  to  supply  the  navy  with  flour,  beef,  pork, 
rice  and  beans,  and  the  purchasing  agents  for  these  articles  have  been 
withdrawn  from  the  market,  or  the  supply  of  stores  now  on  hand,  with 
the  energetic  agents  I  had,  would  have  been  largely  increased.  Should 
the  arrangement  made  with  the  Commissary  General  cease,  we  might 
find  some  difficulty  in  collecting  the  provisions  necessary  for  the  use 
of  the  navy  at  a  moderate  price,  owing  to  the  "  tithe  "  being  given 
exclusively  to  the  army,  and  also  the  bonded  farmers  not  being  al- 
lowed to  sell  except  to  the  commissaries,  would  necessarily  force  the 
purchasing  agents  in  competition  with  speculators,  and  although  the 
provisions  could  be  obtained,  we  would  be  obliged  to  pay  the  highest 
prices.  I  would  suggest  that  an  application  be  made  to  Congress  to 
amend  the  ''  tithe  "  law  so  that  the  navy  may  be  included  in  the  ben- 
efit, and  be  also  allowed  to  purchase  provisions  from  the  bonded 
farmers. 

The  cloth  which  was  imported  is  now  being  made  up  as  rapidly  as 
possible,  and  will  be  sufficient  to  furnish  each  man  in  the  navy  with 
one  suit,  and  should  we  be  successful  in  bringing  in  the  clothing,  &c., 
now  at  Burmuda,  there  will  be  an  ample  supply  of  it  for  one  year. 

The  arrangements  wh'ch  you  have  already  made  for  the  necessary 
supply  of  clothing,  to  be  sent  from  abroad,  is  amply  sufficient,  and  if 
the  stores  reach  the  Confederacy  safely  the  enlisted  men  of  the  navy 
will  be,  at  all  times,  comfortably  clad. 

It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  accounts  should  be  opened  with  each 
paymaster  and  assistant  paymaster  and  this  office,  in  order  to  be  able 
to  have  an  intelligent  understanding  of  matters  under  its  supervision, 


61 

and  I  most  respectfullj  re()uest  that  two  or  three  clerks  may  be  np- 
pointed  to  enable  tlie  office  to  bo  managed  as  it  ought  to  be.  It  is  the 
more  necessary  now,  as  all  of  the  assistant  pnymasters,  have  but  little 
experience  and  it  will  require  a  constant  supervision  of  their  monthly 
and  quarterly  ;;  turns  to  prevent  much  loss  to  the  Government  and 
especially  in  stores,  which  it  is  almost  impossible  at  thi  ■ 
replace. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  most  respectful!;;. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  A.  SEMPLE, 
Paymaster,  C.  S.  Navy^  in  charge  office. 


[Copy.] 

Plymouth,  N.  Q.,  October  28,  186.4. 

Hon.  S.  R.  Mallory, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy  : 

Sir  :  The  night  of  the  27th  instant,  a  dark,  rainy  night,  I  had  the 
watch  on  board  doubled,  and  took  extra  precaution.  At  or  about 
three  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  the  2Sth,  the  oiScer  of  the  deck  discovered  a 
small  steamer  in  the  river,  hailed  her,  received  an  unsatisfactory 
answer,  rang  the  alarm  bell,  and  opened  fire  on  her  with  the  watch. 
The  officers  and  men  were  at  their  quarters  in  as  quick  time  as  was 
possible,  but  the  vessel  was  so  near  that  we  could  not  bring  our  guns 
to  bear,  and  the  shot  fired  from  the  after  gun,  loaded  with  grape, 
failed  to  take  efi"ect.  The  boat,  running  obliquery,  struck  us  tinder 
the  port  bow,  running  over  the  boom,  exploded  a  torpedo,  and  smashed 
a  large  hole  in  us  just  under  the  water  line,  under  a  heavy  fire  of 
musketry.  The  boat  surrendered,  and  I  sent  Lieutenant  Roberts  to 
take  charge  of  her,  manned  the  pumps,  ajad  gave  the  order  to  fire  up, 
so  as  to  use  the  donkey  engine.  The  writer  gained  on  us  so  fast  that 
all  exertions  were  fruitless,  and  the  vessel  went  down  in  a  few  mo- 
ments, merely  leaving  her  shield  and  smoke-stack  out. 

In  justice  to  myself,  I  must  say  the  pickets  below  gave  no  notice 
of  her  approach,  and  the  ariillery  which  was  stationed  near  the  vessel 
for  protection  gave  us  no  asriotance,  manning  only  one  piece,  at  too 
late  a  time  to  be  of  any  service. 

Having  condensed  this  report  as  much  as.  I  could,  I  respectfully 
request  a  court  of  inquiry,  to  establish  on  whose  shoulders  rests  the 
blame  of  the  loss  of  the  Albemarle. 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  F.  WARLEY, 
Lieutenant  commanding  G.  S.  Navy. 

Respectfully  forwarded, 

J.  W.  Cooke, 

Captain  C.  S.  Navy. 


pH8.5 


